clarify the discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

"clarify the discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to explain the differences between two seemingly incompatible facts or figures. For example, "Accounting records show that the company's profits have increased by 10%, yet sales have decreased by 4%. Could you please clarify the discrepancy?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

In an email exchange with PAW, Cramer declined to clarify the discrepancy.

Princeton University

To achieve genotyping with accuracy, we performed a further genetic analysis to clarify the discrepancy.

Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics

This study tries to clarify the discrepancy of published data in the literature and their reliability.

Fluid Phase Equilibria

To clarify the discrepancy with the existing literature, future studies will need to explore the relationship between sleep endophenotypes and subtle neurocognitive deficits in larger samples of SCZ FDRs with shared cognitive batteries.

Nature

In this work, we present a more detailed study on the MHD stability limit of the KSTAR target AT mode and try to clarify the discrepancy observed in the previous two works.

Fusion Engineering and Design

Two days after being asked to clarify the discrepancy, a spokesman for the Minerals Management Service said the new numbers contained a huge error: the statisticians had erroneously shifted 800 billion cubic feet of gas from 2004 to 2001, when they should only have shifted about 8 million cubic feet.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

To clarify the discrepancies in the distributions that occur when adding (mathbf {v}_{mathrm{im}}), we consider the effect of NS kick angles on the final velocity of the companion star in disrupted binaries in Figure 15, analogous to Figure 4 in Tauris (2015).

Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology

In order to clarify the discrepancies between these studies and determine if there is a cause-effect relationship between enhanced auditory skills and vocal production, we recruited two groups of non-musicians: a control group and a group that received experimentally-controlled auditory training to enhance their auditory discrimination skills.

Plosone

Further studies are, therefore, needed to clarify the discrepancies.

European Journal of Immunology

Therefore, a comparison of both studies is difficult and additional investigations will be needed to clarify the discrepancies.

British Journal of Cancer

Evidence for the environmental modification of trait variation is accumulating, and it is reasoned this information will help clarify the discrepancies observed between contradicting association studies [ 8, 9].

Genome Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clarify the discrepancy", provide context on what discrepancy you are addressing. Be specific about the elements that seem inconsistent.

Common error

Avoid using "clarify the discrepancy" without specifying which differences are being addressed. Provide enough context so that readers understand the exact nature of the inconsistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarify the discrepancy" functions as a request or statement that calls for an explanation of an inconsistency. As Ludwig AI points out, it is used to explain differences between two seemingly incompatible facts or figures. Examples showcase its usage in varied contexts, like scientific research and news reporting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clarify the discrepancy" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to request or offer an explanation for an inconsistency. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in written English, particularly when aiming to understand seemingly incompatible facts. Predominantly found in science, news, and academic domains, its register leans towards neutral to formal. Related phrases include alternatives like "resolve the inconsistency" and "explain the contradiction". When employing this phrase, ensuring specific context around the nature of the discrepancy will improve understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resolve the inconsistency

Focuses on resolving a general lack of consistency, rather than a specific difference.

explain the contradiction

Highlights the need to explain two opposing statements or facts.

reconcile the differences

Emphasizes bringing differing elements into agreement or harmony.

address the variance

Highlights addressing a deviation or divergence from a standard or expected value.

investigate the divergence

Focuses on a more in-depth probe into a separation or difference.

unravel the confusion

Focuses on removing confusion rather than specifically addressing a discrepancy.

shed light on the inconsistency

Implies bringing understanding to something that doesn't align.

elucidate the paradox

Implies clarifying a seemingly self-contradictory situation or statement.

sort out the ambiguity

Focuses on resolving a lack of clarity or explicitness.

rectify the incongruity

Highlights correcting a state of not fitting or being suitable.

FAQs

How can I use "clarify the discrepancy" in a sentence?

Use "clarify the discrepancy" when you want someone to explain differences between two or more conflicting pieces of information. For example: "Can you clarify the discrepancy between these two reports?"

What's a formal way to say "clarify the discrepancy"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "resolve the inconsistency" or "explain the contradiction".

Is it better to "clarify the discrepancy" or "explain the discrepancy"?

Both "clarify the discrepancy" and "explain the discrepancy" are correct. "Clarify" implies making something easier to understand, while "explain" means providing a reason or cause. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What does it mean to clarify?

To clarify means to make something clearer or easier to understand. When you "clarify the discrepancy", you're aiming to make the difference or inconsistency more understandable.