different in essence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "different in essence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that fundamentally differ from each other in nature or character. Example: "While they may appear similar on the surface, they are different in essence, leading to distinct outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Critics liked to argue that "General" Castro was no different in essence from any other Latin America dictator, yet such criticism was hard to sustain.

The Guardian

It's no different in essence to the technological experiments that Bach, Paganini, Beethoven and Mahler himself conducted with evolving technologies in the opera houses and concert halls of their day.

The Guardian - Music

"Nor were the Delta resource control disputes so different in essence from the campaign of the Scottish nationalists for dominion of the UK oil pumped off Scotland's shores," Peel writes.

The Guardian - Books

The elections to be held in the fall are important, but whoever is elected next will probably not be much different in essence and form from the leader who was last ousted.

The New York Times

Regardless what you think of the actual result of the process, how different in essence is what the Horrors do (mashing up Goth, shoegaze, post-punk, late-80s neo-psych in the Loop/Spacemen 3, etc) from what post-dubstep operators like Untold, Jam City or Martyn are doing in relation to their own tradition?

The Guardian - Music

To attack someone on the airwaves for being 58 (Parker Bowles is, in fact, 57) and unphotogenic is no different in essence and no better than making fun of individuals on the grounds of their skin colour or limited physical mobility.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Hence, both biodiversity and ecosystem services provide utilitarian values, but in different ways.In essence, Faith argues for the need to recognise the differences between biodiversity and ecosystem services, and he promotes the use of the 'partial protection' approach within a systematic planning framework.

F1000Research

Therefore, each molecule can have a different spectrum; in essence, the IR spectrum is a fingerprint of the sample.

British Journal of Cancer

An intrinsic analysis is a "within class" versus "across classes" analysis that identifies genes that show low variability within a group (i.e. a tumor-metastasis pair), but which show high variation in expression across different tumors; in essence, one is selecting for genes that are consistently expressed when individual tumors are examined, but that vary in expression across different tumors.

BMC Genomics

Over the course of my life, I have lived on three different continents and in essence, very different cultures.

Huffington Post

Nearly any passage taken at random could walk into Private Eye's "Pseuds' Corner", but the whole exerts a slow fascination, from his explanation of the difference in "essences" produced at different seasons, to his sketches of chemical recipes that fool the nose.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "different in essence" to highlight a fundamental difference, not just a superficial one. For example, use it when comparing the core philosophies of two political parties, not just their campaign slogans.

Common error

Avoid using "different in essence" when the differences are minor or superficial. This phrase emphasizes a fundamental divergence, and its misuse can overstate the contrast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "different in essence" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a fundamental distinction. As Ludwig confirms, it's a grammatically correct and usable expression to highlight core differences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "different in essence" serves to highlight fundamental distinctions between subjects, more than just superficial dissimilarities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in diverse contexts. It appears most frequently in news and media and scientific writing, reflecting its utility in analytical and descriptive communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the differences you're describing are core to the subjects' nature, avoiding its application to minor or trivial variations. Alternatives such as ""fundamentally dissimilar"" and ""intrinsically distinct"" offer similar nuanced emphasis on essential divergence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamentally dissimilar

Highlights the basic and irreducible differences.

intrinsically distinct

Emphasizes the inherent and essential differences.

qualitatively different

Focuses on the nature and character of the difference.

distinct in nature

Highlights the variation in fundamental characteristics.

essentially unalike

Stresses the basic dissimilarity in their core.

at its core, disparate

Emphasizes that the disagreement originates at the core/heart of the entity

in substance, different

Highlights that the disagreement originates in what is real and important about something

markedly divergent

Implies a clear and easily noticeable difference.

categorically distinct

Highlights that the two elements belong to completely different categories.

at a basic level, different

It points out that the disparity arises at the root of the entity

FAQs

How can I use "different in essence" in a sentence?

Use "different in essence" to emphasize that the fundamental nature of two things is not the same, even if they appear similar on the surface. For example: "Although both systems aim to improve efficiency, they are "different in essence" because one focuses on automation and the other on human collaboration."

What phrases are similar to "different in essence"?

Alternatives to "different in essence" include "fundamentally dissimilar", "intrinsically distinct", or "qualitatively different". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "different in essence"?

It's appropriate when describing items that might share superficial similarities but diverge significantly in their core attributes or underlying principles. Consider using it to contrast philosophies, methodologies, or fundamental approaches.

What's the difference between "different in essence" and "different in nature"?

"Different in essence" emphasizes a disparity in the fundamental core or underlying character, while "different in nature" highlights differences in the basic qualities or inherent characteristics. The former suggests a deeper, more profound divergence.