A comparison is not self-explanatory

A comparison only means something when it says what it compared, how, when, with what data, and whether it has a stake.

Subjects

Which products or services are compared, in which versions? A comparison without subjects is a list, not a comparison.

Criteria

On what basis are they compared? The criteria decide what “better” means here.

Timing

When was the comparison made? Prices and features change; an old comparison may no longer hold.

Data source

Where did the numbers come from? A comparison with no source is a claim dressed as a table.

Relationship

Does the publisher have a stake in one of the subjects? A disclosure changes how the comparison reads.

?Open item: is any of the five disclosures missing from the comparison?

A worked read

  1. Page: compares several agents.
  2. Missing: no criteria, no date, no data source.
  3. Result: the comparison stays unconfirmed.

Source-reading example — not a review, testimonial, rating, comparison result, or verification.

Continue your review

Return to the review source guide and the pros and cons context guide.

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