What Is a Comparison?
When two documents are compared, it means that they are being looked at side by side to determine commonalities and differences. This is often done when analyzing data, such as in a research study, or when creating a new version of an existing document. A comparison can be done in two different ways: either by looking for similarities between the two documents, or by looking for differences between them. In either case, the goal is to understand which ideas are included in both documents.
How to Compare Documents
When comparing documents, it is important to first identify the purpose of the comparison. What information is being sought? Are there any specific topics or themes being looked at? Once the purpose of the comparison has been established, the documents can be read side by side. It is important to look at both documents in their entirety, as some ideas may be expressed differently in each document.
Finding Similarities
When looking for similarities between two documents, it is important to look for both the explicit and implicit similarities. Explicit similarities are those that are plainly visible, such as the same words being used, or the same concepts being expressed. Implicit similarities are those that are not so obvious, and may require a more in-depth analysis of the text. It is important to note that even if two documents appear to be different on the surface, they may still have some underlying similarities.
Finding Differences
When looking for differences between two documents, the same approach should be taken as when searching for similarities. It is important to look for both explicit and implicit differences. Explicit differences are those that are plainly visible, such as different words being used, or different concepts being expressed. Implicit differences are those that are not so obvious, and may require a more in-depth analysis of the text. It is important to note that even if two documents appear to be the same on the surface, they may still have some underlying differences.
Identifying Key Ideas
Once the similarities and differences between the two documents have been identified, it is important to go back and identify the key ideas that are included in both documents. This involves looking at both documents in their entirety, and looking for any common themes or ideas that are expressed in both. It is important to note that the same idea may be expressed differently in each document, so it is important to look carefully at both documents in order to identify any common ideas.
Conclusion
Comparing two documents can be a challenging task, but it is an important step in understanding which ideas are included in both documents. By identifying similarities and differences between the two documents, and then looking for any common themes or ideas, it is possible to determine which ideas are included in both documents. This can be a useful tool for understanding the overall meaning of a text, or for creating a new version of an existing document.