differ between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differ between" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used to compare two or more items when explaining that they are not similar in certain ways. For example, "The lifestyles of people in small towns differ between those in large cities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Parade routes differ between the different parks.

WikiHow

Attitudes also differ between sectors.

The New York Times

Costs differ between countries, too.

The Economist

Guidelines will differ between brands.

The Guardian

Modes of reproduction differ between species.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, their frequencies differ between ethnic groups.

The Economist

Note that the scales differ between continents.

Nature

Regulations differ between countries," he states.

The Guardian - Money

Statistics differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Independent

The rationale is, risk statistics differ between men and women.

The Guardian - Money

These loading protocols differ between test campaigns.

Engineering Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "differ between", ensure you clearly identify the subjects being compared to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what "the two groups" are instead of simply stating "results differ between the two groups."

Common error

Avoid using "differ with" when you mean "differ between". "Differ with" indicates disagreement, while "differ between" indicates a distinction exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ between" functions as a prepositional phrase used to indicate distinctions or variations between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is suitable in written English and clearly conveys that things are not alike. Numerous examples confirm its purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

27%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "differ between" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the ways in which two or more things are not the same. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness in written English. This phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts from science and news to academic writing. It is essential to avoid confusion with "differ with", which indicates disagreement rather than distinction. By ensuring clarity in your comparisons and avoiding common prepositional errors, you can effectively use "differ between" to highlight important distinctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vary among

This alternative changes the preposition to emphasize a distribution of differences.

distinguish among

This option puts focus on the ability to see the differences.

contrast with

This alternative highlights the act of comparing differences.

differentiate from

This highlights the action of actively separating entities based on their differences.

are distinct among

This alternative emphasizes the clear and recognizable differences.

show discrepancies between

This phrasing focuses on factual inconsistencies or variances.

exhibit dissimilarities among

This formal version emphasizes the lack of similarity.

display variation within

This option suggests a range of differences within a set group.

bear differences between

A more formal way of stating differences exist.

lack uniformity among

This alternative highlights the absence of sameness within a group.

FAQs

How can I use "differ between" in a sentence?

You can use "differ between" to show the ways in which two or more things are not the same. For example, "The parade routes "differ between" the different parks."

What is an alternative to "differ between"?

Alternatives to "differ between" include "vary among", "distinguish among", or "contrast with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "differ with" instead of "differ between"?

No, "differ with" and "differ between" have different meanings. "Differ with" means to disagree, while "differ between" means to be distinct or dissimilar. For example, "I "differ with" your opinion" is correct for disagreement, but "The policies "differ between" countries" is correct for showing distinction.

What's the difference between "differ between" and "different from"?

"Differ between" is used to compare multiple items and show their dissimilarities, while "different from" is used to point out how one thing is not the same as another. For example, "The approaches "differ between" the two departments," versus "This method is "different from" the previous one."