discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when there is a difference between two or more things that should be the same. For example, "The discrepancy between the expected sales figures and the actual sales figures was greater than anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Women are still earning 20% less per hour worked than men which is, yes, a greater discrepancy than there was between the pay of women and men at the Ford plant in Dagenham in 1968.

The Guardian

Another complaint concerns what the military sees as a discrepancy between British politicians saying the armed forces were capable of fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time and the military saying they were under-resourced.

The Guardian

There's a huge discrepancy between the state of the economy and collective spiritual wellbeing".

The Guardian - Arts

He explained the discrepancy between the allowed £200 and the greater amount of $400 by saying that some of the money would go towards the cost of the dinner.

The Guardian

In 2013, the Paris prosecutor's office opened a preliminary inquiry into Le Pen's declared wealth after the state watchdog for transparency in public life warned of a possible discrepancy between his wealth accrued between 2004 and 2009 and his earnings as an MEP.

The Guardian

The colossal discrepancy between Hillary's rockstar aura and the increasingly threadbare humdrummery of the British political scene must be galling for our political leaders.

The Guardian

A decade younger than Moyles, Grimshaw has been promoted to breakfast in Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper's biggest signal yet that the station is serious about tackling the discrepancy between its target demographic of 15 to 29-year-olds and a stubbornly antique average listener age of 32.

The Guardian

The government in Berlin is an institutionalised dilemma and its foreign policy discrepancy is particularly stark in the EU.

The Guardian

Asked this week about this discrepancy and whether growth could be generated by austerity, a former European prime minister who also served as a senior EU official told the Guardian: "There is no growth, there won't be any growth".

The Guardian

The reason for the discrepancy in McCain's tweet was not immediately clear.

The Guardian

Given that incredibly discrepancy, and given the Warriors' cadre of attacking savants, something had to give and it eventually did.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting a "discrepancy", clearly state what items or figures are being compared and the nature of the difference.

Common error

Avoid focusing on extremely small "discrepancies" that are statistically insignificant or within a reasonable margin of error, as this can distract from more meaningful insights.

Linguistic Context

The word "discrepancy" functions primarily as a noun. It refers to an instance of disagreement or difference between two or more facts, figures, or claims. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is commonly used to point out inconsistencies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The noun "discrepancy" is a frequently used term that denotes an inconsistency or difference between facts, figures, or claims. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and commonly applied in various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific reporting. When writing, be sure to clearly state what is being compared and the nature of the difference. Remember that not all "discrepancies" indicate errors; some simply highlight factual differences needing further investigation. The term has many synonyms, like "inconsistency", "variance", or "difference", which can be used based on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inconsistency

Focuses on a lack of logical or factual compatibility.

variance

Suggests a measurable difference or deviation from a norm.

difference

A general term indicating a point or way in which things are dissimilar.

divergence

Implies a separation or moving apart from a common point.

disparity

Highlights a significant difference, often implying inequality.

mismatch

Suggests a failure to correspond or fit together properly.

conflict

Indicates a direct opposition or clash between elements.

deviation

Refers to a departure from an established course or standard.

variation

Denotes a change or difference in condition, amount, or level.

dissimilarity

Emphasizes the lack of resemblance between things.

FAQs

How to use "discrepancy" in a sentence?

You can use "discrepancy" to point out differences between two or more things that ought to match. For example: "There was a notable discrepancy between the witness's statement and the security footage."

What can I say instead of "discrepancy"?

You can use alternatives like "inconsistency", "variance", or "difference" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "discrepancy" and "disparity"?

"Discrepancy" generally refers to any difference or inconsistency, while "disparity" often implies a significant and unfair difference, particularly in terms of inequality.

Is it always negative to point out a "discrepancy"?

Not necessarily. While "discrepancy" often highlights an error or problem, it can also simply point out a factual difference that requires further investigation or clarification.