Compare

and
Contrast
Compare- taken from
the Latin word
“comparare” which
means to liken or to
compare.
Comparing things
means pointing out
their similarities, or
what they have in
common.
Contrast -derived from Latin words
“contra” and “stare”which means
against and to stand. In Middle
English, contrast was used for
meaning
“to fight against or to “withstand”
in a battle.
Contrasting things mean
pointing out their
differences, or where
they diverge from one
another.
For example:
· Apples and oranges are both
fruits
· They are both foods
· Both are made into juice
· Both grow on trees
When you contrast items, you look at their

differences.
•· Apples are red. Oranges are orange
•· The fruits have different textures
•· Oranges need a warmer place to grow,
like Florida. Apples can grow in cooler
states like Washington.
There are two main reasons that people
use comparison and contrast:
1. To Explain
You might compare and contrast kinds of
food, for instance, to help someone
understand which food need to have
refrigerated and which can be stored in a
cabinet or in a bowl on the counter.
2. To Evaluate
You might compare and contrast
kinds of food to show why of kind of
food or brand of food is better than
another. For example, apples are
better snack than butter.
 When you choose items to compare and contrast,
make sure that you choose items that have
similarities. You have to choose things that will
make sense for comparison and contrast. For
instance, it wouldn’t make sense to compare a truck
with a crayon or crayons with the birdhouse. Be
sure to compare things that belong together.
Compare crayons to pencils or pens, or compare
trucks and cars. When you compare items, you look
for their similarities—the things that make them the
same.