IELTS JOURNAL 19 Use these examples as models for your own sentences: In 1999, 35% of British people went abroad for their holidays, while only 28% of Australians spent their holidays in a different country. The figure for the USA stood at 31%. Around 40% of women in the UK had an undergraduate qualification in 1999, compared to 37% of men. The figures for the year 2000 rose slightly to 42% and 38% respectively. Using Simple Comparisons You can use "compared to", "compared with", "in comparison to" and "in comparison with"
in the same way. For example:
Prices in the UK are high compared to / with / in comparison with (prices in) Canada and Australia. Compared to / with / in comparison with (prices in) Canada and Australia, prices in the UK are high. When writing about numbers or changes, I find it easier to use "while" or "whereas":
There are 5 million smokers in the UK, while / whereas only 2 million Canadians and 1 million Australians smoke. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of smokers in the UK decreased dramatically, while / whereas the figures for Canada and Australia remained the same. Note: We don't say "comparing to".
We say "2 million" not "2 millions".
Correct: 10 million people
Wrong: 10 millions people, 10 millions of people, 10 million of people
When there is no number, we do write "millions of".
e.g. Millions of people travel abroad each year.
