account for the difference

USAGE SUMMARY

"account for the difference" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of giving a logical explanation for why or how two opposing facts, figures, or opinions differ. For example: "The figures in the two reports did not match; can you account for the difference?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These could account for the difference of its properties among different laboratories.

Plosone

Yet differing reporting methods may also account for the difference.

The New York Times

However, those investigators used a different antibody (clone 9G6), which may account for the difference in intensity.

Breast Cancer Research

This however cannot account for the difference between the latter two more complex tasks where the distances are no different.

Plosone

How do you account for the difference?

The New Yorker

Then what does account for the difference?

The New Yorker

What might account for the difference?

The Guardian

And politics seems to account for the difference.

The New York Times

When asked to account for the difference today, General Shelton responded with one word: "media".

The New York Times

Many factors account for the difference, but the biggest is a mundane matter of timing.

The New Yorker

This temporal difference may account for the difference in nodule size.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly define what two things are being compared when using the phrase to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using overly broad or generic explanations when trying to "account for the difference". Provide concrete details and evidence to support your reasoning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "account for the difference" serves as a request for or provision of explanation regarding a discrepancy. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It highlights a need to understand the reasons behind a variance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "account for the difference" is a versatile phrase used to request or provide explanations for discrepancies. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely applicable. Its use spans across diverse fields like science, news, and business, making it suitable for neutral and formal contexts. Remember to provide specific, evidence-based explanations to avoid overgeneralizations. Related phrases such as "explain the disparity" and "justify the variation" can be used as alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explain the disparity

This alternative focuses on explaining the existing differences.

justify the variation

This alternative emphasizes justifying or providing reasons for the variation.

clarify the distinction

This alternative suggests making the distinction clearer or more understandable.

elucidate the contrast

This alternative emphasizes clarifying or shedding light on the contrast.

determine the reason for the divergence

This alternative shifts the focus to actively determining the underlying reasons for the divergence.

identify the cause of the discrepancy

This alternative highlights identifying the root cause of the inconsistency.

offer an explanation for the gap

This alternative emphasizes offering a reasoned explanation for the observed gap.

provide reasons for the deviation

This alternative focuses on supplying a set of reasons that explain the deviation.

resolve the inconsistency

This alternative implies addressing and resolving an existing inconsistency.

address the imbalance

This alternative suggests tackling and resolving the imbalance.

FAQs

How can I use "account for the difference" in a sentence?

You can use "account for the difference" to ask for or provide an explanation for why two things are not the same. For example, "How do you "account for the difference" in test scores between the two classes?"

What's the difference between "explain the disparity" and "account for the difference"?

"Explain the disparity" focuses more on clarifying the nature of the difference, while "account for the difference" implies providing reasons or factors that cause the difference.

What can I say instead of "account for the difference"?

You can use alternatives like "justify the variation", "clarify the distinction", or "elucidate the contrast depending on the context".

Is it better to use "account for the difference" or "accounting for the difference"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "account for the difference" is typically used as an infinitive or imperative, while "accounting for the difference" is a gerund phrase used as a noun. Choose the form that fits best within the sentence structure.