differ towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differ towards" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It is unclear in meaning and does not convey a standard expression of difference or opinion. Example: "People tend to differ towards various opinions on climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Similarly, attitudes differ towards Lashkar-e-Taiba, reckoned by Pakistanis to be a useful tool for threatening India, but an international terrorist group by Americans, especially since an attack on Mumbai in November 2008.Next the ISI wants the American government to discourage a private court case in New York against past and present chiefs of Pakistani intelligence.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We included only studies on POCTs involving blood (excluding other types of sample such as urine or throat swabs) because these could replace venipuncture and laboratory testing, and have the biggest potential to change practice; and attitudes towards them may differ to attitudes towards other types of POCT.

BMC Family Practice

Second, how sirtuins located in different subcellular compartments differ in their enzyme kinetics towards NAD+ availability?

Clinical and Translational Medicine

The major human lens α−crystallins, αA- (HAA) and αB- (HAB), share 57% sequence identity and show similar activity towards some clients, but differing activities towards others.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

When considered as a group the nematode species and strains from within and outside the geographic ranges of either P. japonica or C. borealis did not differ in virulence towards either scarab species.

Biological Control

These groups have been shown to differ in attitudes towards sexual health (Elam et al, 1999) and uptake of cervical screening (Health Education Authority, 1994).

British Journal of Cancer

They were also already shown to differ in virulence towards the main C. elegans strain N2 when tested on solid agar, whereby virulence varied in the following order (from high to low): Sm2170 > ATCC274 > Db11 > Sma3 = Sma13 [ 22].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Another limitation of previous South African research is the failure to examine whether publicly-held attitudes towards women who use substances differ from those held towards men.

BMC Psychiatry

Non-contact affiliative behavior towards partner or other conspecifics in the room did not differ, nor did agonism towards partner or others in the room.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Aside from differing attitudes towards marriage and cohabitation, similar factors are put forward to explain the trends - from university attendance to incomes, unemployment and house prices.

The Guardian

This task was complicated by the fact that Nike had to contend with many sites and geographies, kinds of employees (hourly vs. salaried) and differing attitudes towards volunteering.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "differ towards", opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "differ in their approach to", "have different attitudes about", or "show differing opinions on" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "towards" to connect differing opinions or actions. "Towards" typically denotes direction or orientation, not divergence or contrast. Using it in phrases like "differ towards" creates grammatical errors and obscures your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ towards" attempts to express a divergence in opinion or action. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage would typically involve "differ in" or "have differing views on".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "differ towards" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use. As Ludwig AI points out, standard English prefers constructions like "differ in" or "have differing views on". While some examples may exist across various sources, the overall consensus is that "differ towards" is a non-standard and potentially confusing phrase. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's best to opt for established alternatives when expressing differing opinions or approaches. Instead use the phrase "differ in" or similar alternatives for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

differ in their approach to

Emphasizes a difference in the method or strategy used.

have different attitudes about

Highlights varying perspectives or feelings regarding a specific subject.

show differing opinions on

Focuses on contrasting viewpoints or beliefs.

vary in their perspective on

Indicates a range of viewpoints or outlooks.

disagree about

Directly expresses a lack of consensus or agreement.

hold opposing views regarding

Emphasizes conflicting or contradictory viewpoints.

diverge in their thinking on

Suggests a separation or branching out in thought processes.

have contrasting ideas about

Highlights the presence of differing or opposite concepts.

are not aligned on

Indicates a lack of agreement or shared understanding.

clash in their approaches to

Implies a conflict or strong disagreement in methods.

FAQs

How can I correctly express differing opinions or approaches?

Instead of using the phrase "differ towards", which is grammatically incorrect, use alternatives like "differ in their approach to", "have different attitudes about", or "show differing opinions on".

What is a more appropriate preposition to use with 'differ'?

The preposition "in" is generally more suitable with "differ" when indicating a distinction or variation. For example, "They differ in their opinions" is grammatically correct and clear.

Is "differ towards" ever considered correct in any context?

No, "differ towards" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to avoid this construction and use more accepted alternatives.

What's the difference between saying "differ in opinion" and "differ towards"?

"Differ in opinion" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, indicating a divergence of viewpoints. "Differ towards", on the other hand, is not a standard or correct English phrase and should be avoided.