discover discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discover discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of finding or identifying a difference or inconsistency in data, information, or observations. Example: "During the audit, we were able to discover discrepancy in the financial reports that needed to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Certainly more restraints would enable a researcher to better refine the structure and to discover discrepancy within the restraints.

Biophysics Reports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In real life, P.I.s locate witnesses, discover discrepancies in a résumé or in evidence, do background checks on companies or individuals, and discourage stalkers.

The New Yorker

If you discover discrepancies, take the appropriate steps to have them corrected promptly.

Forbes

When they discover discrepancies, they remedy, some even overnight.

Huffington Post

This discovered discrepancy in gender-specific miRNA expression could support the hypothesis called Batemańs principle in immunity [ 9] because males gain fitness by increasing their mating success whereas females increase fitness through longevity since their reproductive effort is higher [ 10, 11].

Biology Letters

In 1992, Promesa's chief financial officer was murdered after discovering discrepancies during an audit, and another employee was convicted of hiring two teenagers to kill her.

The New York Times

But that eroded rapidly as investigators discovered discrepancies between several autopsy reports prepared the day the women's bodies were found, including mislabeled tissue.

The New York Times

In each of those three cases — Longtop, China MediaExpress and ShengdaTech — the auditors discovered discrepancies, but only after signing off on financial statements.

The New York Times

In February 2007, Heather Lynn Anderson, a deputy attorney general who specializes in tax cases, filed papers in court saying auditors had discovered discrepancies that raised "numerous additional questions regarding the accuracy" of the Trump casinos' tax returns.

The New York Times

In comparing public and private descriptions of drug trials conducted by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, researchers discovered discrepancies,including changes in the number of study participants and inconsistent definitions of protocols and analyses.

The New York Times - Science

In July 2011, after The Guardian exposed the accessing of Milly Dowler's voicemails by the News of the World, a team of Journal reporters discovered discrepancies between different versions of the paper's article about the 13-year-old murdered girl published earlier that year.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discover discrepancy", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being compared and where the inconsistency lies. Specify the areas or data points that are inconsistent to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of the "discover discrepancy" if it's minor or easily explained. Clearly communicate the severity and potential consequences of the inconsistency to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discover discrepancy" functions as a verb + noun construction, where "discover" acts as the verb indicating the action of finding, and "discrepancy" serves as the noun, representing the inconsistency that is found. Ludwig shows various examples of the usage of the phrase, mainly from news, science and media domains.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discover discrepancy" is a grammatically sound verb + noun construction used to describe the act of finding an inconsistency. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the expression appears infrequently. Its usage is appropriate in neutral to formal registers, particularly in news, scientific, and professional domains, as supported by examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While the phrase is correct, alternatives such as "detect inconsistency" or "uncover contradiction" may be more common, depending on the specific context. Ensure clarity by specifying the areas or data points where the discrepancy exists and avoid exaggerating the significance of minor inconsistencies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detect inconsistency

Focuses on identifying a lack of uniformity or logical coherence.

uncover contradiction

Emphasizes revealing conflicting elements or statements.

find variance

Highlights the act of locating differences in data or observations.

identify divergence

Stresses the recognition of differing paths or opinions.

reveal anomaly

Highlights the act of exposing something that deviates from the norm.

spot difference

Focuses on quickly noticing a distinction.

observe disparity

Emphasizes noticing a significant difference or inequality.

note incongruity

Highlights the act of acknowledging something that doesn't fit or belong.

ascertain conflict

Focuses on determining the presence of opposing forces or ideas.

pinpoint deviation

Emphasizes accurately identifying a departure from the standard.

FAQs

How can I use "discover discrepancy" in a sentence?

You can use "discover discrepancy" to describe the act of finding an inconsistency or difference, as in "During the audit, we were able to discover discrepancy in the financial reports that needed to be addressed."

What are some alternatives to saying "discover discrepancy"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "detect inconsistency", "uncover contradiction", or "find variance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "discover discrepancy" or "identify inconsistency"?

Both "discover discrepancy" and "identify inconsistency" are correct, but "identify inconsistency" might be more common and direct. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "discover discrepancy" and "reveal anomaly"?

"Discover discrepancy" generally refers to finding any kind of difference or inconsistency, while "reveal anomaly" implies uncovering something unusual or unexpected that deviates from the norm. The phrase "reveal anomaly" suggests a more significant departure from what is expected.