distinction

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "distinction" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a clear difference between two things or to an ability to make clear distinctions between things. Example sentence: His keen eye allowed him to make the distinction between the valuable items and the worthless ones.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Speaking on the BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, the shadow home secretary attempted to draw a distinction between her approach and those of the two other main hopefuls, Burnham and Kendall, who have been quicker to distance themselves from some of former leader Ed Miliband's election policies.

The Guardian

He grew up a Thistle supporter and served both Highland League sides with distinction – with a spell at Celtic in between – before taking the natural step to Caley Thistle.

The Guardian - Sport

But the left's attempt to brand all modern-day Republicans as right-wing extremists misses an important distinction that could have significant implications for Obama's battle to hang on to what's left of his party's power in Congress.

The Guardian

In addition, I suspect that many of us subconsciously draw a distinction between "immigration" as a phenomenon and "immigrants" as people.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The car is the ultimate object for distinction," says Hansen.

The Guardian

Clearly there is a big distinction to be made there.

The Guardian

I am not talking about alcoholics – you wouldn't penalise people for addictions – but a doctor could easily make the distinction.

The Guardian

It is a very small group who maintained opposition to all the regimes since Mubarak, and who could make a distinction between supporting the victims of these regimes without endorsing their political position".

The Guardian

The distinction is important because the Republicans use "Democrat" as an adjective, eg "Democrat party", in a pejorative way Dench, Dame Judi not Judy Deng Xiaoping denier one who denies, as in "Holocaust denier"; there is no such word as "denialist".

The Guardian

He also drew the clear distinction between big state anti-business Labour and a Conservative government attracting inward investment, focused on skills, jobs and exporting to the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

This article was amended on 11 March 2011 to clarify the distinction between the hydrogen-peroxide bearing product that goes under the umbrella name of liquid oxygen, and the gas of the same name.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "distinction" to emphasize a clear and important difference between two or more things. It is particularly useful when highlighting a significant divergence or contrast.

Common error

Avoid using "distinction" when a simpler word like "difference" would suffice. Overusing "distinction" can make your writing sound pretentious or unnecessarily formal when describing everyday variances.

Linguistic Context

The noun "distinction" functions to highlight a difference or contrast between two or more things. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable, and examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts to denote significant variances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distinction" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun that emphasizes differences or unique qualities, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, denoting important variances. While the word is versatile, it is advisable to use simpler terms such as "difference" in less formal situations to prevent sounding pretentious. As noted by Ludwig, understanding the nuances of "distinction" allows for clearer, more precise communication, highlighting significant factors that set entities apart.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

differentiation

Focuses on the act of distinguishing or making something different.

discrimination

Emphasizes the ability to perceive fine differences; also, may imply unfair treatment.

separation

Highlights the state of being separate or divided.

contrast

Emphasizes the difference between two things when they are compared.

uniqueness

Highlights what makes something stand out as being unlike anything else.

peculiarity

Emphasizes an odd or unusual feature that distinguishes something.

characteristic

Refers to a typical feature or quality that distinguishes a person, thing, or group.

hallmark

Emphasizes a distinctive feature or mark of excellence.

fine line

Emphasizes a subtle difference between two things.

nuance

Highlights a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

FAQs

How do you use "distinction" in a sentence?

The noun "distinction" can be used to indicate a difference or contrast between similar things or people, or to indicate excellence or special honor. For example: "There is a clear distinction between the two candidates' policies."

What can I say instead of "distinction"?

You can use alternatives like "differentiation", "separation", or "contrast" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "distinction between" or "distinction of"?

"Distinction between" is used to highlight the differences between two or more entities. "Distinction of" is often used to denote a quality or characteristic that makes someone or something special or eminent.

What's the difference between "distinction" and "difference"?

"Distinction" often implies a more significant or refined difference. "Difference" is a more general term for any way in which things are not the same, while "distinction" suggests a notable and important difference that sets something apart.