differ in length

USAGE SUMMARY

'differ in length' is correct English and can be used in written English.
For example, "The two tables they had were almost identical, except that they differed in length."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Haas offers a few different detox programs, which differ in length (three days to a lifetime) and intensity (three-meals-a-day plan to fasting).

The Washington Post

Fragment length distributions differ if they have different numbers of fragments or if any of the fragments differ in length.

BMC Genomics

Family members differ in length of virion particles, but seem to be very similar in morphology.

Harvard University

They also differ in length of the growing season and how well they store and an awful lot more.

Cornell University

A thousandth of a second equates to a single centimetre, yet track lanes have been known to differ in length by twice as much.

The Guardian - Sport

This comparison includes the BLAST (blastn) hits to P. fluorescens SBW25 gtsB for which the retrieved gtsB gene sequence did not differ in length from the query gtsB sequence.

Nature

Thus, if two signals that start simultaneously from different sites are to arrive at their destination simultaneously, the paths they travel must not differ in length by more than a few centimetres.

Britannica

FUGUE uses the global-local algorithm to align a sequence-structure pair when they greatly differ in length and uses the global algorithm in other cases.

Journal of Molecular Biology

These conformational changes reflect the adaptation of the cleft on binding peptide ligands that differ in length and amino acid composition.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Double bells, usually of metal, share a common handle but differ in length or in diameter and, consequently, always in pitch.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Isoalleles, which are sequence-based allelic variants that do not differ in length, were observed in nine autosomal and in six Y- STRs from the core global forensic marker set.

Forensic Science International: Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical objects, use "differ in length" to clearly indicate variations in their linear dimensions. For example, "The ropes used in the experiment should differ in length to test their tensile strength."

Common error

Avoid using "differ by length" when you mean "differ in length". "Differ by length" suggests a specific amount of difference, while "differ in length" simply indicates that a difference exists without specifying the amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ in length" functions primarily as a descriptive element, indicating that items or entities possess varying linear dimensions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage is grammatically sound, evident in numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

10%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "differ in length" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe variations in the linear dimension of items or entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usage spans across multiple domains, including science, news, and academia, with a generally neutral register that can become more formal depending on the specific context. Common usage involves specifying disparities in size, and while alternatives like "vary in length" exist, it's important to avoid confusion with similar phrases like "differ by length", which implies a specific amount of difference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vary in length

This alternative uses "vary" instead of "differ", suggesting a more general change or fluctuation in length.

are of varying lengths

This option focuses on the characteristic of having lengths that are not uniform.

have different lengths

This restructures the phrase to emphasize the existence of multiple distinct lengths.

show length differences

Similar to 'have different lengths' but emphasizes the differences directly.

exhibit length variations

This alternative employs a more formal and technical tone, highlighting the presence of variations in length.

contrast in length

This is used to highlight the differences in length when comparing two or more items.

present length disparities

This alternative uses more formal language and emphasizes the lack of equality in length.

lengths are not uniform

This phrase directly states that the lengths are diverse and not the same.

demonstrate length diversity

This option suggests a wide range of different lengths.

the length is not consistent

This emphasizes the lack of uniformity or regularity in length.

FAQs

How do I use "differ in length" in a sentence?

You can use "differ in length" to describe items that vary in their linear dimension. For example, "The pencils in the box "differ in length", with some being shorter than others."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "differ in length"?

Alternatives include phrases like "vary in length", "have different lengths", or "exhibit length variations" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "differ by length" instead of "differ in length"?

While "differ by length" isn't incorrect, it implies a specific quantity of difference, whereas ""differ in length"" simply indicates that there is a difference without specifying the amount.

Can you provide an example of when to use "differ in length" in a scientific context?

In a scientific study, you might say, "The DNA fragments "differ in length", which is a key factor in determining the effectiveness of the sequencing process."