close the discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close the discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to resolving or correcting a difference or inconsistency in data, reports, or accounts. Example: "To ensure accuracy in our financial statements, we need to close the discrepancy found in the last audit."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That is, the discrepancy between the actual body composition and this defended level (or set point) at the end of the diet generated a signal that resulted in elevated intake once the diet was terminated to close the discrepancy and return the individual to the set point.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Intel says it hopes to close the pay discrepancy gap by the end of this year.

TechCrunch

Strategies aimed at using one test as a 'teachable moment' for promoting another test may help close the gap in socio-demographic discrepancies in cancer screening to a certain extent.

BMC Public Health

It won't close the pay gap, the unemployment gap, the wealth gap or the discrepancy between black and white incarceration.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, a closer look reveals that the discrepancy between this and previous studies is not in the number of interventions which involved an RCT (51.5% vs. 53% for Ellis and 31% for Moyer) but in the number of interventions meeting the criteria for level II evidence (4.6% vs. 29% for Ellis and 44% for Moyer).

BMC Pediatrics

Administration officials, however, said they believed the discrepancy was closer to $400 million — an amount certain to grow, because a federal Medicaid grant projected to be $1 billion is to be cut by at least several hundred million dollars and probably more.

The New York Times

Out of that, and perhaps some other things as well, you get such howlers as the discrepancy at the close of the Democratic convention between Gallup's figures and those of Newsweek's Princeton Survey Research.

The New York Times

This difference, however, does not come close to explaining the magnitude of the discrepancy.

The New York Times

A discrepancy is then observed for the lower pressures close to the transition regime.

Vacuum

The financial review, conducted under the agreement forged by Major League Baseball, was incomplete, the person added, and the amount of the discrepancy could be closer to $10 million.

The New York Times - Sports

A frequency-domain analysis of the proposed criterion shows that the discrepancy between the true closed-loop system and the designed one is minimized in terms of the output and input sensitivity functions.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close the discrepancy", ensure that the context clearly identifies what is being compared and why the difference needs to be resolved.

Common error

Avoid using "close the discrepancy" when a complete elimination of the difference isn't possible or intended; consider using "reduce the discrepancy" instead to reflect a partial correction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close the discrepancy" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action to be taken. As Ludwig AI explains, it aims to resolve or eliminate an inconsistency, as seen in the example concerning body composition and elevated intake after dieting.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close the discrepancy" is a grammatically sound but relatively uncommon expression used to describe the act of resolving an inconsistency, as also stated by Ludwig AI. While its usage is correct, alternative phrases like "resolve the difference" or "reduce the gap" may be more frequently encountered. Its primary contexts are science and news media, and it carries a neutral to professional tone. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what's being compared and the scope of the correction being made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resolve the difference

Focuses on finding a solution to a disagreement or variation.

reduce the gap

Emphasizes lessening the distance or inequality between two things.

reconcile the disparity

Implies bringing two conflicting things into agreement or harmony.

eliminate the inconsistency

Highlights removing a contradiction or lack of uniformity.

rectify the error

Addresses correcting a mistake or inaccuracy.

correct the imbalance

Focuses on adjusting something to achieve a state of equilibrium.

iron out the wrinkles

Suggests resolving minor problems or imperfections.

bridge the divide

Implies connecting two separate or opposing entities.

settle the variance

Focuses on adjusting something to achieve a state of equilibrium.

reconcile the figures

Specific to making numerical data consistent or comparable.

FAQs

What does "close the discrepancy" mean?

The phrase "close the discrepancy" means to eliminate or resolve an inconsistency or difference between two or more things, typically data sets or reports.

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

Example: "The accounting team worked diligently to "close the discrepancy" between the reported income and actual revenue."

What are some alternatives to "close the discrepancy"?

Alternatives include "resolve the difference", "reduce the gap", or "reconcile the disparity", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "close the discrepancy" or "resolve the discrepancy"?

Both phrases are valid, but "resolve the discrepancy" might be more common and generally applicable in a broader range of situations. "Close" implies a more definitive and complete elimination of the difference.