differ starkly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differ starkly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or noticeable difference between two or more things. Example: "The two reports differ starkly in their conclusions about the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But their motivations appear to differ starkly.

The New York Times

What is striking is that the two rates of poverty seen here differ starkly.

European Transport Research Review

But the mechanisms of natural variation entailing recombination in its various forms differ starkly between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Biology Direct

When one of them does, their memories differ starkly from mine, and sometimes they don't even remember events that seem vivid to me.

Vice

But the result might differ starkly from the nearer-term objective of Republicans in Congress: to win in 2002.

The New York Times

The two men differ starkly in style, with Mr. Emanuel generally taking no prisoners while Mr. Van Hollen's approach is more tempered.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In New York and New Jersey yesterday, the reactions to the newest cases differed starkly.

The New York Times

While reforming ethics in Albany topped both candidates' priorities, their other agendas differed starkly.

The New York Times

The two men's imposition of values unrelated to their sports paralleled the rise of religious and political intolerance in Pakistan and Egypt even if the two countries' response often politicized religious militancy differed starkly.

Huffington Post

The pattern of nucleotide variation within C. elegans differs starkly with the gonochoristic or obligately outcrossing species of the genus.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

The topography of higher order chromatin arrangements and the nearly DNA-free interchromatin compartment (IC), however, differs starkly in different cell types.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "differ starkly", ensure that the items being compared are explicitly mentioned to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The two proposals differ starkly in their approach to funding."

Common error

Avoid using "differ starkly" with vague or undefined subjects. Instead of saying "Things differ starkly now", specify what "things" you are referring to, such as "Economic conditions differ starkly now compared to a decade ago."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ starkly" functions as a verb phrase, modifying the verb "differ" to intensify the degree of difference. It's used to emphasize that the items being compared are significantly dissimilar. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "differ starkly" is a grammatically correct and effective way to express a significant difference between two or more things. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Its use is more common in news, scientific, and formal contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the items being compared. Alternatives such as "contrast sharply" or "vary significantly" can be used to convey a similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contrast sharply

This alternative emphasizes a clear and distinct difference between two things.

vary significantly

This suggests a notable degree of variation or difference.

diverge greatly

This implies a substantial departure or deviation from a common point.

stand in sharp contrast

This highlights the opposing nature of the items being compared.

differ markedly

This indicates a difference that is easily noticeable or significant.

contrast dramatically

Similar to 'contrast sharply' but emphasizes the intensity of the difference.

show a clear distinction

Focuses on the presence of an easily recognizable difference.

exhibit notable differences

Highlights the presence of differences that are worthy of attention.

present a strong contrast

This emphasizes the intensity of the differences.

are clearly dissimilar

States that the items do not resemble each other.

FAQs

What does it mean when things "differ starkly"?

When things "differ starkly", it means they are strikingly or obviously different. The phrase emphasizes a significant contrast.

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

You can use "differ starkly" to highlight significant differences between two or more things. For example, "The opinions of the two experts differ starkly on this matter."

What are some alternatives to saying "differ starkly"?

Alternatives to "differ starkly" include "contrast sharply", "vary significantly", or "diverge greatly".

Is it more formal to say "differ starkly" or "differ a lot"?

"Differ starkly" is more formal than "differ a lot". The former is better suited for academic or professional writing, while the latter is appropriate for informal conversation.