differ on the issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"differ on the issue" is correct and usable in written English as a phrase to express disagreement or contrasting opinions on a particular topic or problem.
It can be used in various contexts, such as political debates, discussions among colleagues, or even casual conversations among friends. Example: "Many politicians differed on the issue of gun control, with some advocating for stricter laws while others believed in upholding the Second Amendment without further restrictions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The party platforms differ on the issue.

The New York Times

The Egyptian president, on the other hand, said: "We differ on the issue.

The New York Times

Legal scholars differ on the issue of whether the president can pardon himself — and even some Republicans questioned the reading of the law by Trump's legal team.

The Washington Post

Legal scholars differ on the issue of whether the president can pardon himself — and even some Republicans question the reading of the law by Trump's legal team.

The Washington Post

Breaking the numbers down along party lines, although Republicans and Democrats differ on the issue, the poll revealed that the gap is not as large as people perceive.

Stanford University

People may differ on the issue of gay marriage, but who wants to argue about a seating chart for a same-sex wedding?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

We are business leaders who sometimes differ on the issues of the day.

The Washington Post

First, in February, the two sides differed on the issue of dual citizenship, and later they disagreed over the Russian desire to maintain the city of Sevastopol as the home base exclusively of the Russian part of the Black Sea Fleet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Americans, British, and French all differed on the issue of reparations settlement.

Wikipedia

McGrath and Gray hardly differed on the issues.

HuffPost

The two candidates differ on the war issue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "differ on the issue" when you want to clearly state that there are contrasting opinions or disagreements regarding a specific topic. It's appropriate for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid replacing the preposition "on" with other prepositions like "about" or "with" as it may alter the intended meaning. Stick to "differ on the issue" for clarity and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ on the issue" functions as a verb phrase, indicating disagreement or divergence of opinions concerning a specific matter. It's used to express that individuals or groups have contrasting viewpoints, as demonstrated in various Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "differ on the issue" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate disagreement or contrasting opinions on a specific topic. As evidenced by Ludwig's analysis, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, academic writing, and encyclopedic entries. Although Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, writers should be mindful of selecting the most precise preposition to ensure accuracy. Alternative phrases such as "disagree about the matter" or "hold opposing views on the subject" can offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas. Understanding its correct usage and context will improve clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disagree about the matter

Focuses on disagreement, replacing "differ" with "disagree" and "issue" with "matter."

hold opposing views on the subject

Emphasizes the holding of contrasting views, replacing "differ" with "hold opposing views" and "issue" with "subject."

have conflicting opinions regarding the topic

Highlights the presence of conflicting opinions, using "conflicting opinions" instead of "differ" and "topic" instead of "issue".

see things differently when it comes to the question

Expresses a difference in perspective, replacing "differ" with "see things differently" and "issue" with "question".

are not of the same mind on the point

Indicates a lack of agreement, using "are not of the same mind" instead of "differ" and "point" instead of "issue".

diverge in their perspectives on the problem

Emphasizes diverging perspectives, replacing "differ" with "diverge" and "issue" with "problem".

have different standpoints concerning the situation

Focuses on different standpoints, replacing "differ" with "have different standpoints" and "issue" with "situation".

part ways on the question

Implies a separation in agreement, using "part ways" instead of "differ" and "question" instead of "issue".

clash over the concern

Highlights a conflict of views, replacing "differ" with "clash" and "issue" with "concern".

find themselves at odds regarding the matter

Expresses being in opposition, replacing "differ" with "find themselves at odds" and "issue" with "matter".

FAQs

How can I use "differ on the issue" in a sentence?

You can use "differ on the issue" to indicate disagreement on a particular topic. For example, "The candidates "differ on the issue" of healthcare reform".

What are some alternative ways to say "differ on the issue"?

Alternatives include "disagree about the matter", "hold opposing views on the subject", or "have conflicting opinions regarding the topic", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "differ about the issue" instead of "differ on the issue"?

While "differ about" is sometimes used, "differ on" is more common and generally preferred, especially in formal writing. Using "differ on" more precisely indicates the point of disagreement.

What's the difference between "differ on the issue" and "differ regarding the issue"?

"Differ on the issue" is more common and direct. "Differ regarding the issue" is also correct but sounds slightly more formal and less frequently used. The meaning is essentially the same.