a significant discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a notable difference or inconsistency between two or more items, data sets, or situations. Example: "The audit revealed a significant discrepancy between the reported sales figures and the actual revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Blix, who leads the biological and chemical weapons team, cited "a significant discrepancy" in the Iraqi weapons declaration concerning the numbers of chemical munitions remaining in Iraq's arsenal.

The New York Times

The trust said it was "surprising" that Williams's matches were not covered in full, but in its judgment published on Thursday said there was "no evidence of a significant discrepancy that suggested bias against the women's game" within the BBC.

The Guardian

The latest electoral rolls count 47.77 million men, compared with 36.59 million women — a significant discrepancy given that Pakistan's male-to-female ratio is 1.06.

The New York Times

For this composite event the seismic catalogs show a significant discrepancy.

Earth, Planets and Space

A significant discrepancy with respect to obtained sizes and applied reaction conditions can be noted.

Chemistry Central Journal

Especially for higher loads there is a significant discrepancy between calculated and measured forces.

ROBOMECH Journal

In all cases, a significant discrepancy is found between the model predictions and experimental observations.

Acta Materialia

Literatures report a significant discrepancy regarding definition of domestic violence among different cultures (Sokoloff & Dupont 2005; Fernandez 2006).

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

For the hot injection methodology, a significant discrepancy with respect to obtained sizes and applied reaction conditions is reported.

Chemistry Central Journal

A significant discrepancy is present in the amount of maximum slip between our study and Ammon-III.

Earth, Planets and Space

However, there was a significant discrepancy in the number of times each teacher assessed and gave WCF on learners' writings.

Language Testing in Asia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant discrepancy", ensure you clearly identify the items being compared and the specific aspect where the discrepancy exists to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid stating there is "a significant discrepancy" without providing context or specifics. Quantify the discrepancy or explain its impact to give the statement more weight and meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It highlights a noteworthy difference or inconsistency. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness and versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant discrepancy" is a versatile phrase used to highlight notable differences or inconsistencies. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it finds frequent application in scientific, news, and formal contexts, emphasizing the importance of identified variations. AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Related phrases like "a notable difference" and "a marked inconsistency" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, while it's essential to provide context when using the phrase to avoid ambiguity. Understanding the subtle differences among these options allows for more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a notable difference

This alternative focuses on the extent of the difference, highlighting its observability.

a marked inconsistency

This phrase emphasizes the lack of alignment or agreement between two or more things.

a considerable variation

This suggests a degree of change or difference that is worthy of attention.

a major divergence

This highlights the point at which things begin to deviate or separate.

a substantial imbalance

This emphasizes the unequal distribution or proportion of something.

a pronounced disparity

This suggests a clear and easily noticeable difference between things.

a striking incongruity

This emphasizes that something is surprisingly out of place or incompatible.

a glaring contradiction

This suggests a clear and obvious conflict between two things.

a distinct deviation

This emphasizes that something has moved away from what is expected or normal.

a material difference

This signifies that the difference is important and could affect a decision or outcome.

FAQs

How to use "a significant discrepancy" in a sentence?

Use "a significant discrepancy" to highlight a notable difference or inconsistency between two or more things. For example: "There was a significant discrepancy between the reported figures and the actual findings."

What can I say instead of "a significant discrepancy"?

You can use alternatives like "a notable difference", "a marked inconsistency", or "a considerable variation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "a significant discrepancy" or "a significant difference"?

Both "a significant discrepancy" and "a significant difference" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Discrepancy" implies an unexpected or problematic difference, while "difference" is more neutral. Choose the word that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "a significant discrepancy" and "a major discrepancy"?

"A significant discrepancy" and "a major discrepancy" are largely interchangeable, with "major" implying a larger or more important difference than "significant". The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey.