Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Lautaro]

I was asked the difference between the following things and I didn't know the answer:

compared to/compared with

and

I saw him sing. /I saw him singing.

Any ideas?

[obelix]

In England they usually say compared to. I think compared with may be an American usage.
I saw him sing, to me suggests that he was singing in a formal setting such as a concert, or at some event.
I saw him singing suggests I saw him singing somewhere but not necessarily in a formal setting.
Otherwise they have pretty much the same meaning.

[Lautaro]

Thanks for the reply Obelix!

[advoca]

The conventional answer to the question about the difference between compared to and compared with is:

To compare X to Y is to say that X is similar to Y.
But to compare X with Y is to note the similarities and differences between X and Y.

Note the differences and nuances. For example:
He compared me to Einstein. (He said I was in the same class as Einstein.)
He compared me with Einstein. (He pointed out where and how far I resembled or failed to resemble Einstein.)

However:

Compared to Einstein I am an idiot.
Compared with Einstein I am an idiot.

Here we have an example where either sense is applicable.

But what about practical ordinary every-day English? Most native English speakers are vague about when to use to and when to use with, and are careless with the rules. Very few such speakers will notice if you get the rules wrong. By all means learn the rules (in case you come across them in an examination or test) but do not be a slave to them when you are speaking English.