a difference of two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difference of two" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical contexts or discussions about numerical comparisons. Example: "The two numbers have a difference of two, which indicates they are two units apart on the number line."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

One user, with two iPhone 6S Pluses with different chips, reported a difference of two hours in battery life between the phones: the TSMC chip hit almost eight hours while running a suite of battery-intensive activities, while the Samsung one managed barely six.

The Guardian - Tech

37 38 Because of the differing number of shops in each community, the balance was restricted to a difference of two in the number of chemical shops per arm, the same number of communities containing only one shop per arm, and a maximum relative difference of 20% in the average number of cases per day.

British Medical Journal

It's a difference of two hours.

The Guardian

"It is very difficult to play against such a defensive side and win with a difference of two goals.

The Guardian - Sport

Given the margin of error attached to these polls, a difference of two points — a thirteen per cent gender gap in 2008 versus an eleven per cent gender gap in 2012 — isn't statistically meaningful.

The New Yorker

The first main result in that paper is that every local comparability graph is a difference of two comparability graphs.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

There are different proportions above and below a difference of zero.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Similar recognition of antibodies from the same individual by two different PfAMA1 alleles would suggest a difference of zero (0) or a log (difference) of one (1).

BMC Infectious Diseases

"This was a wonderful, gallant exercise," Moynihan said, "and with a difference of six thousand votes in New Hampshire things might have been very different".

The New Yorker

Within this group a difference of one single basepair of the D3 sequence invariably indicated different morphologically valid species [42].

Plosone

According to a delegate count made by the Times, that leaves Sanders with a thousand and twenty-five elected delegates and Clinton with twelve hundred and seventy-four, a difference of two hundred and forty-nine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing statistical results, clearly state what the "difference of two" refers to (e.g., points, standard deviations, percentage). This will improve clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a difference of two" without specifying the units or context. For example, instead of saying "there's a difference of two", specify "a difference of two percentage points" or "a difference of two standard deviations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difference of two" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It quantifies the extent of disparity between two values or measurements. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

74%

News & Media

16%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a difference of two" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to denote a numerical disparity between two entities. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage spans multiple domains, especially science and media, where it often specifies quantitative distinctions. The analysis reveals that its register is neutral, lending it to broad applicability. For clarity, it's best practice to specify the units of measurement. Alternatives include "a disparity of two" or "a gap of two". Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and common usage of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disparity of two

Replaces "difference" with "disparity", emphasizing inequality.

a gap of two

Substitutes "difference" with "gap", highlighting the space or interval between two values.

a variation of two

Uses "variation" instead of "difference", focusing on the degree of change.

a margin of two

Replaces "difference" with "margin", indicating the extent to which one value exceeds another.

an interval of two

Focuses on the numerical distance, using "interval" instead of "difference".

a distinction of two

Emphasizes a clear contrast between two values by using "distinction".

a separation of two

Highlights the act of being set apart, substituting "difference" with "separation".

a deviation of two

Focuses on the departure from a standard or expected value, using "deviation".

two units apart

A more descriptive alternative, specifying that the values are separated by two units.

differing by two

Expresses the concept as an action, indicating that two values are not the same and are offset by two.

FAQs

How can I use "a difference of two" in a sentence?

Use "a difference of two" to describe a numerical disparity between two values. For example, "The experimental group showed "a difference of two" points compared to the control group."

What's the difference between "a difference of two" and "a gap of two"?

While both phrases indicate a numerical separation, ""a difference of two"" is a more general term, while "a gap of two" often suggests a missing or unfilled space between the values.

Which is correct: "a difference of two" or "a two-point difference"?

Both are correct, but ""a difference of two"" is more descriptive, while "a two-point difference" is more concise. The best choice depends on the desired level of detail and the context.

What can I say instead of "a difference of two" when describing statistical significance?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a statistically significant difference", "a notable difference", or "a meaningful difference" to emphasize the importance of the numerical difference.