Lost in Space
You contrast things that are opposites. You compare things that are similar.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Zzzzzzzzzz
Compare with Dark Action Girl
Contrast with Damsel in Distress
edited 5th May '14 4:08:06 PM by Madrugada
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
Dragon Writer
Complicating matters is when you see the phrase "compare and contrast" — because the item is similar enough to make comparisons, but different enough to draw contrasts (and it's hard to judge whether the similarities outweigh the differences or vice versa). In this context it is similar to "see also".
An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
I think a page should always avoid using the phrase "compare and contrast." "See also" sounds better.
Compare means "look at the similarities" and contrast means "look at the differences".
In common usage, however, a lot of people will just say compare to mean "look at the similarities and differences", rather than compare and contrast.
In terms of the use on the wiki, "Compare" means to address how a trope or example accomplishes the same goal. "Contrast" means to address how a trope or example accomplishes a different goal. Both explain that they are related in some way and, as already said, can be used interchangeably while retaining the same meaning.
In an argument or debate, though, it is an important distinction to make. Not being clear about compare/contrast when you make a reference to Nazi Germany can be troublesome.
I happen to use these terms interchangeably. Are there definitions for when to use what?