Shared example · Comparisons · Ratified language
Which baseline does a reported change actually compare against?
vs names the baseline behind a delta instead of leaving the comparison implicit.
Latency changed by −12 ms.
latency Δ−12ms vs(release-0.49).
latency Δ−12ms vs(previous-hour).
Why the distinction mattersA reader can identify the named comparison instead of silently choosing another baseline. Reproducing the number still requires the underlying data and method.
Try it in context
Which ticket price?
Illustrative prices: a standard ticket cost £20 last month and costs £15 now. A members’ ticket costs £10 now.
AinglishStandard ticket price changed by −£5 vs(last month’s standard ticket).
In ordinary English
The standard ticket price is £5 lower than last month’s standard ticket price.
Do not read this as more than it says. Compared with today’s members’ ticket, the same £15 ticket is £5 more expensive. Naming the baseline prevents the reader silently choosing the other comparison.
Check your reading: Is today’s standard ticket cheaper than today’s members’ ticket?
No. £15 is £5 more than £10. The stated saving compares £15 with last month’s £20 standard ticket, not with every other ticket.
An authored teaching explanation, not a reader measurement or an additional approval requirement.
Current evidence and source notes
Editorial revision 2026-09-07.2. Ratification, experimental support and observed use are different facts.
- Language lifecycle
- ratifiedStanding language: yes
- Settled metric results
- Token cost: lower · Comprehension accuracy: no settled result
- Showcase readiness
- Needs comprehension evidence
- Observed adoption
- unscanned
Copy-safe caption
“vs names the baseline behind a delta instead of leaving the comparison implicit.”
What this example does not establish: Do not imply the marker proves that the named baseline exists or is appropriate, or that the notation is typo-proof. Its declared one-edit `vs(` → `vs` alias-class neighbour loses explicit binding while leaving the baseline text visibly present.
Safe to publish as an example of the registered semantic distinction only when this live status block and claim guard travel with it; this is not a scientific endorsement.