Definition

Adverb 1. Compare: An abbreviation for the Latin word "confer," meaning "compare." It is used in academic, legal, or formal texts to direct the reader to another source, note, or section for comparison or further information.

Usage

• The abbreviation cf. is used to suggest that the reader should consult another piece of information to see a similar or contrasting point.
• It is typically placed within parentheses or as a footnote marker.
• It is followed by the reference it points to.

Examples

• The author argues for a new interpretation of the data (cf. Smith, 2020, p. 45).
• This theory has several notable critics (cf. the works of Johnson and Lee).
• The symptoms described are common in such cases (cf. Chapter 3 for a full discussion).

Advanced Usage

• In Footnotes/Endnotes: cf. is commonly used in scholarly writing within footnotes or endnotes to guide the reader to related arguments or evidence without lengthy explanation in the main text.
  • See, for example, the economic analysis provided by Davis. Cf. the opposing view summarized in Appendix B.

Variants and Related Words

• Compare (v.): To examine two or more things to note similarities and differences. This is the full English word for which cf. is the abbreviated directive.
• See also: A similar directive used to point to related or supplementary material, but without the specific comparative nuance of cf.

Synonyms

• Compare with
• Refer to
• Consult

Notes on Meaning

• Cf. vs. See: While both are directives, cf. specifically implies a comparative action ("compare this with that"). The directive see is more general and simply points the reader to another source for information.
• Not a Verb: It is critical to remember that cf. is an adverb used as a citation directive. It is not a verb to be used in sentence construction (e.g., "One should cf. the two documents" is incorrect. Use "One should compare the two documents" instead).

Adverb

1. compare (used in texts to point the reader to another location in the text)