Compared with the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake

Question

Compared with  the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake was smaller in magnitude but did more structural damage.

(A) Compared with 
(B) In comparison with 
(C) In comparing 
(D) As compared to 
(E) Comparing

Verbal Question of The Day: Day 165: Sentence Correction 
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The explanation says that B & D are wordy but are they really that wordy.

sandeepb17 · Accepted Answer

Verbal Question of The Day: Day 165: Sentence Correction 
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Compared with  the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake was smaller in magnitude but did more structural damage.

a) Compared with 
b) In comparison with 
c) In comparing 
d) As compared to 
e) Comparing

IMO A is correct. Battle is between A and D. When describing the similarities between unlike things, the idiom "compare to" is used.When describing the differences between like things, the idiom "compare with" is used.

Here 1906 earthquake and 1989 earthquake are similar things.

daagh · Answer

To quote from MGMAT spokesperson Ron, in the link <https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/when-to-use-compared-with-and-compared-to-t2071.html>

You may decide now whether the text is wordy or not.

rohu27 · Answer

as we are comapring similar items, compare with shud be used. stuck bet A and B now. someon eexplain?

gurpreetsingh · Answer

For similar items..compared with is preferred.

so only A and B stays..

compared with > in comparison with

compared with => verb > noun and adjectives....

thangvietname · Answer

I think 3 choice a,b and c are correct.

because this question is not offcial I will not study more

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

how can think 3 choices are correct? Compared with the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake was smaller in magnitude but did more structural damage. a) Compared with............ .best among the answer choices and compares both the earthquakes. b) In comparison with............ wordier compared to choice A c) In comparing................... Who is comparing here and the phrase In comparing X, Y is smaller does not make sense and this is not a proper way of comparison. One quake is smaller in comparing with another quake is completely wrong. whatever happened while comparing X should be compared to the action that happened during comparing Y as well. or X should be compared with Y(intended one here.) d) As compared to................. as is used to indicate phrases or actions and is incorrect here. e) Comparing................... Who is comparing here definitely not earthquake I hope this helps

gmatexam439 · Answer

Compared with  the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake was smaller in magnitude but did more structural damage.

a) Compared with -  Correct 
b) In comparison with -  wordier than A 
c) In comparing -  we need "with" after 1906 earthquake; "in" is not required 
d) As compared to -  "As" requires a clause when used as a comparison marker 
e) Comparing -  we need "with" after 1906 earthquake

Can't really explain - in technical terms - as to why A is preferred over B.
Awaiting explanation by GMATNinja

getahead · Answer

Both GmatNinja and Ron Purewal have mentioned time and again that ideally there is no difference between “compared to” and “compared with” and the usage is driven by the meaning in the sentence.

In C and E, comparing is used in the form of verb+ing modifier which modifies the whole clause coming after the comma.

Option B : use of in is not required

Option D : As is neither functioning here as conjunction or as preposition.

Option A is the most concise form 
Using past participle form of compare —> compared with

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

martinod20 · Answer

Is this question from a reliable source? It changes everything I've known about compared to vs. comparison with
Thanks

Helium · Answer

Experts pl enlighten :

GMATNinja ,  aragonn ,  hazelnut ,  generis

gmatdordie · Answer

can anyone please a throw a light on usage of compared to versus compared with

aragonn · Answer

“Compared with” - compare two things,

For example, when I compare my computer with my brain, I find my brain often slower to boot up (especially when it’s low on caffeine).

“compared to” – to liken something to something that is usually not comparable to the thing being likened.

For example, the computer is often compared to a human brain because of the way both process information. In this use, compare is synonymous with liken.

aragonn · Answer

Harshgmat  - I am not sure what kind of light you want, Though sun is good source. If its about this question. Open up about your understanding. It will help us understand Your side and help you in right way. But I am much concerned about your learning and it will come if you know and can ask right kind of question. This will let you know what is the gap in your understanding and you can improve by filling that gap. Otherwise solve every question on this forum. it will not help. 
Learn to know your gaps my friend. If nothing, write here what you know. Someone will defiantly guide you. 
Hope this will bring some depth in your learning.

generis · Answer

Harshgmat  ,  gmatdordie  , and  martinod20  
 This question is not official. 
 The source of the question is  Knewton - and it is at least 14 years old.

In the course of extensive research that I did a few weeks ago, I found that this topic question is from  2005.

The "compare to/with" issue crops up repeatedly and understandably concerns GMAT aspirants.

daagh  , upthread, is correct.

The GMAT does not test  compare to  and  compare with .

See  GMATNinja  , for example, in  this post, here .

Another expert, Payal from  egmat  , wrote:
 
 HERE .

Manhattan Prep GMAT Sentence Correction : 
Page 223, 6th edition (2014).

RonPurewal  : That post is from 2014.
You can find that direct quote  here.

In the excellent Magoosh  Complete Guide to GMAT Idioms   that can be downloaded from a link HERE  , idiomatic usage of  compare  is addressed this way:
 
In the downloaded pdf file, that material comes from page 12 of 101 pages.

Finally,  EducationAisle  advises us to steer clear of trying to use the distinction when solving SCs. His post is  here .

The one and only question I have seen that seems to test the issue is THIRTY years old.

In every OG from OG 13 (that version is the earliest I possess) to OG 2019 , the Verbal Reviews, and every official GMAT Prep question I could find—
(I ran this search a month ago, on October 22, because I saw a post that asserted what I see here)—
 not one question tests that difference .

I don't have my research in front of me but I can confirm that egmat 's assertion holds for 
EVERY official volume of questions published since OG 13 and for every other official question I could find.
I think I found three questions in which the phrases were used in different answer choices.

There was absolutely no mention of the distinction in the OEs. 
The correct answer had nothing to do with
the distinction. 
The correct answer could not have been found by knowing the distinction.

For those who assert that the distinction is still tested, please produce an example of an official question
from the last 10 years that tests the distinction.

Maybe then there will be a basis for this assertion.

At that point,  GMATNinja  ,  RonPurewal   egmat  
and the authors  Manhattan Prep Sentence Correction Guide  
would probably have to consider what to do or to say about their statements.

Helium · Answer

Hi aragonn I have gone through the earlier discussions above and one thing is very clear that distinction between "compared to" and "compared with" is not going to be a testing point on GMAT. "Both GmatNinja and Ron Purewal have mentioned time and again that ideally there is no difference between “compared to” and “compared with” and the usage is driven by the meaning in the sentence. " But the point where I am not getting light

is how to eliminate option D? I understand shortcuts don't lead to Good GMAT score but there are times when one is too lazy....You just caught me off the guard at one such moment.... Thanks for your reproval. Looking forward to detailed analysis as is usually done by GMATNinja for question of the day posts or generis

dave13 · Answer

martinod20 i ve read your comment like this: " Is this question from a reliable source? It changes everything I've known. "

i didnt read the rest part

may be this will help you as well as an additional source of info: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 30295.html

BlacknYellow · Answer

Aren't these choices redundant anyhow? 
"Compared to/with X, Y is SMALLER... you could just say X is SMALLER than Y; we already know it's a comparison.  GMATNinja

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Compared with the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake

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Compared with the 1906 earthquake, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake

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