Academic Writing

Comparisons
UNIT
2.4
It is often necessary to make comparisons in academic writing. The comparison
might be the subject of the essay, or might provide evidence for the argument. In
all cases, it is important to explain clearly what is being compared and to make the
comparison as accurate as possible. This unit deals with different forms of
comparison and practises their use.

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(c) These comparisons can be modified by the use of adverbs such as slightly, marginally,

approximately, considerably, significantly and substantially:
France is substantially larger than Switzerland.
Switzerland is slightly smaller than Holland.
Winters in Poland are significantly colder than in Portugal.
(d) Similarity can be noted by the use of as . . . as or the same as:
The population of France is approximately the same as the population of Britain.
Summers in Tokyo are as wet as in Singapore.
This form can be used for quantitative comparison:
Britain is half as large as France.
(also twice as large as . . ., ten times as fast as . . .)
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See 
Unit 3.6
Numbers
2 Practice A
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Study the table, which shows the price of quality residential property in various cities.
Complete the following comparisons, and write two more.
2.4: Comparisons
101
€ per m
2
City
28,000
London
16,500
New York
16,200
Moscow
16,000
Paris
15,850
Tokyo
13,500
Rome
11,850
Singapore
11,000
Sydney
(a) Residential property in London is twice as expensive _______________ in Rome.
(b) Property in Moscow is _______________ cheaper than in New York.
(c) Tokyo property is nearly as expensive as property in _______________.

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(d) Singapore has significantly cheaper property _______________ New York.

(e) London is the _______________ expensive of the eight cities, while Sydney is
the cheapest.
(f) ___________________________________________________________________________
(g) ___________________________________________________________________________