distinguish for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distinguish for" is not correct in written English.
If you want to use the root word "distinguish," you can use the phrase "distinguish between" or "distinguish among." Example: The teacher had to distinguish among the students to award the top prize.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The word "distinguishes" is substituted for the words "shall * * * distinguish" for uniformity.

Cornell University

Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France and Japan all distinguish for policy purposes between foreign students and other migrants.

The Guardian - Opinion

But conventional routers are highly limited machines, unable to distinguish, for example, between destructive and normal packets.

The New York Times - Tech

Users can slice the data by categories to distinguish, for example, searches for Apple the company and apple the fruit.

The New York Times

They do not distinguish, for example, between housing tenure, do not identify households on means tested benefits, or distinguish between different ethnicities.

The Guardian

Even if they're taught the "correct" theories, they will forever lack the intellectual tools to distinguish for themselves between good science and hogwash.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

I think people make the mistake of distinguishing for-good vs. for-money.

The New York Times

He was distinguished for his beauty.

Encyclopedia Britannica

vulgaris in subsp. fastigiata were distinguished for the first time.

Nature

He distinguishes, for example, between "estimated" and "realised" pay.

The Economist

Films once distinguished for their originality are then purchased for their potential sameness.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to show differences, replace "distinguish for" with "distinguish between" or "distinguish among" to ensure grammatical correctness. For instance, prefer "distinguish between A and B" over "distinguish for A and B".

Common error

Avoid using "for" after "distinguish"; instead, use "between" or "among" to accurately convey the intended meaning when differentiating items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distinguish for" is typically intended to express the act of recognizing differences or making distinctions. However, it does not conform to standard English grammar. Instead, phrases like ""distinguish between"" or ""distinguish among"" should be used. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "distinguish for" is frequently used across various contexts, including science, news media, and academia. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English grammar requires using ""distinguish between"" or ""distinguish among"" to accurately express the intended meaning of differentiating or categorizing items. Therefore, it's recommended to replace "distinguish for" with grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and accuracy in writing. Despite its frequency, the phrase's incorrectness lowers its overall quality and appropriateness for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distinguish between

Focuses on the act of recognizing differences between two specific items or categories.

differentiate between

Similar to "distinguish between", but often used when emphasizing clear and precise distinctions.

discriminate between

Implies a more careful and critical process of distinguishing, sometimes with an evaluative component.

tell the difference

Informal way of asking or stating whether one can perceive a difference.

draw a distinction

Emphasizes the act of creating or identifying a specific distinction.

make a distinction

Similar to "draw a distinction", but can refer to a more general observation of differences.

separate out

Highlights the act of physically or conceptually dividing things into different groups.

identify differences

Focuses on the recognition of variations between items.

contrast with

Used to highlight the differences when comparing two or more things.

discern between

Implies a careful or subtle act of perceiving or distinguishing something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "distinguish" in a sentence?

The verb "distinguish" is typically followed by "between" when comparing two items or "among" when comparing three or more items. For example, "It's important to "distinguish between" fact and fiction" or "She can "distinguish among" various types of wine".

What can I say instead of "distinguish for"?

Instead of "distinguish for", you can use phrases like ""distinguish between"", "differentiate between", or "discern between" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "distinguish for"?

No, "distinguish for" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct usage involves using "distinguish between" or "distinguish among".

How does the meaning change when using "distinguish between" instead of "distinguish for"?

Using "distinguish between" provides grammatical accuracy and clarity when indicating the act of recognizing differences. "Distinguish for" is not a standard construction and should be avoided in formal writing.