differ on the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'differ on the question' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that people have different opinions or answers to a certain question. For example, "The two candidates for mayor differed on the question of how best to handle the budget deficit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Monisms, neutral or otherwise, differ on the question whether ultimate reality is one or many.

SEP

"Clare and I differ on the question of what Gene's head is full of," the narrator explains.

The New York Times - Books

"Reasonable minds could — and indeed do — differ on the question of whether this club engages in invidious discrimination," she wrote.

The New York Times

If reasonable men could differ on the question of whether or not the party used the highest degree[251 Or. 601] of care to discover the defect, the question is one to be resolved by the jury.

Harvard University

"He and I in fact differ on the question of the blessing of same-sex unions," said Bishop Shannon Johnston of the Diocese of Virginia, "but that has enriched and deepened our relationship and our engagement with one another.

The New York Times

There are several types of Fourth Amendment violations that may be said to fall under the rubric of "good faith". [T]here will be those occasions where the trial or appellate court will disagree on the issue of probable cause, no matter how reasonable the grounds for arrest appeared to the officer and though reasonable men could easily differ on the question.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They differ on the questions of who believes the propositions and when.

SEP

Schlink, Rakoff, Abrams, Peters, and Renwick said that he deserved to be repaid his three thousand ducats, though they differed on the question of interest.

The New Yorker

The two sides also differed on the question of how much Britain will have to pay as part of the "divorce settlement," with Mrs. May reportedly saying it owes nothing because there is no mention of such payments in the European Union's founding treaties.

The New York Times

Individuals in the congregation differ on this question and their convictions do not label them as "unfaithful to God".

Huffington Post

Opinions differ on that question.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "differ on the question" when you want to clearly indicate that there are varying opinions or answers regarding a specific question. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "differ on the question" when referring to general topics or statements rather than specific questions. For instance, it's better to say 'They differ on the approach to climate change' instead of framing it as a question if there isn't one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ on the question" functions as a verbal phrase indicating disagreement or varying perspectives on a specific inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "differ on the question" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered expression used to indicate differing opinions or viewpoints regarding a specific inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, illustrating common usage in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. While not extremely frequent, it is a valuable tool for conveying disagreement on particular matters. For expressing similar ideas, one can employ alternatives such as "disagree about the issue" or "hold differing views on the matter", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disagree about the issue

Replaces 'on the question' with 'about the issue', focusing on the subject of disagreement.

hold differing views on the matter

Uses a more formal tone and replaces 'differ' with 'hold differing views'.

have different opinions regarding the topic

Substitutes 'differ' with 'have different opinions' and uses 'regarding' instead of 'on'.

are at odds over the subject

Emphasizes the conflict or disagreement using the idiom 'at odds'.

see the matter from different angles

Focuses on the differing perspectives rather than direct disagreement.

part ways on the issue

Highlights the separation in viewpoints using the idiom 'part ways'.

dissent on the matter

Uses a more formal and direct term 'dissent' to indicate disagreement.

have a divergence of opinion on the subject

Replaces 'differ' with 'have a divergence of opinion' for a more elaborate expression.

their perspectives clash on the issue

Emphasizes the conflict between viewpoints with 'perspectives clash'.

varied standpoints concerning the inquiry

A more formal alternative, replacing common words with synonyms for a more sophisticated expression.

FAQs

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

You can use "differ on the question" to indicate that people have varying opinions or answers regarding a specific inquiry. For example, "The experts "differ on the question" of whether the policy will be effective."

What's a more formal way to say "differ on the question"?

A more formal way to express the same idea is to say "hold differing views on the matter" or "have different opinions regarding the topic".

Is it correct to use "disagree on the question" instead of "differ on the question"?

Yes, "disagree on the question" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. They both convey the same meaning of having opposing views on a particular inquiry. While similar, "disagree on the question" is a more direct term.

What's the difference between "differ on the question" and "differ on the subject"?

"Differ on the question" implies a specific inquiry or point of debate, while "differ on the subject" suggests a broader disagreement across a general topic. The former is more focused, whereas the latter is more encompassing.