distinguishable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "distinguishable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is capable of being identified as different or unique from something else. For example, "The two objects were easily distinguishable, as one was made of plastic and the other was metal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the research, published in Nature, found that 59% of the marine parks studied were "not ecologically distinguishable from fished sites".

The Guardian

Last year, an independent analysis of hundreds of terrorism cases in the US concluded that the NSA's collection of phone records has had no distinguishable impact on preventing acts of terrorism.

The Guardian

It invokes physical phenomena that can only have been distinguishable within the first trillionth of a second of time, at temperatures measured in millions of billions of degrees.

The Guardian - Opinion

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, argue that branding and spot genetic testing (the DNA of southern African elephants is distinguishable from that of East African ones) will be enough to detect and root out illegal trading.

The Economist

The Davis Strait subpopulation is directly south of the Baffin Bay subpopulation, with no distinguishable barriers to polar-bear movement.Moreover, you were very condescending towards Inuit and our efforts to regain control of our destiny.

The Economist

Unskilled workers in Britain are less distinguishable from those in China or India, and have seen their wages depressed by globalisation as a result.Yet experience in America suggests that leaving pay to the market does not invariably mean more cream for the fat cats.

The Economist

And, at a tactical level, the jobs of countering terrorism and countering hostile intelligence activities are also hardly distinguishable from one another.

The Economist

His Conservatives are further to the right than the former Progressive Conservative Party, which governed Canada on and off until its annihilation in 1993 and which was barely distinguishable from the Liberals.Provided Mr Harper increases the 143 seats and 37.7% the Conservatives won in 2008, his hold on his job looks secure.

The Economist

Indeed, the foreign policy it advocates, at least on NATO and European Union issues, is hardly distinguishable from that of Chancellor Helmut Kohl's centre-right coalition government.

The Economist

Because they had little to say about the economy (other than proposing some half-hearted tax reliefs) or the running of public services that was easily distinguishable from Labour, they resorted to magnifying differences in immigration policy a tactic that repelled as many as it attracted.

The Economist

Or that he had fallen foul of Russian gangsters, who are not always easily distinguishable from the government.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distinguishable", ensure the context clearly specifies what the subject is being distinguished from to avoid ambiguity. For example, 'The twin's personalities are distinguishable despite their identical appearance.'

Common error

Avoid using "distinguishable" without a clear basis for comparison. Saying something is 'distinguishable' implies a difference that needs to be specified or understood from the context. For example, avoid saying, "The product is distinguishable," without clarifying what it is distinguishable from.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "distinguishable" primarily functions to describe the capacity of something to be recognized as different or unique. As Ludwig AI points out, it's usable in written English. For example, "The two flavors were distinguishable by their aroma."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distinguishable" is a versatile adjective indicating the capacity for something to be recognized as different. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage in English. It's commonly employed in news, science, and formal business contexts to emphasize clear and identifiable differences. To enhance clarity, specify what the subject is being distinguished from, avoiding overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "easily discernible" or "readily identifiable" may be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easily discernible

Highlights the ease with which something can be distinguished.

readily identifiable

Emphasizes the quickness and ease of identification.

clearly differentiated

Focuses on the act of making differences evident.

markedly distinct

Stresses the significant degree of difference.

patently recognizable

Emphasizes the obviousness of the recognition.

noticeably different

Highlights that the difference is easily noticed.

visibly contrasting

Focuses on the visual aspect of the difference.

perceptibly discrete

Emphasizes that the differences are perceived.

unmistakably unique

Stresses the impossibility of confusing it with something else.

appreciably divergent

Highlights that the divergence or difference is significant.

FAQs

How can I use "distinguishable" in a sentence?

Use "distinguishable" to describe something that can be recognized as different from something else. For example, "The bird's song was "easily distinguishable" from the others."

What are some alternatives to using "distinguishable"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives like "distinct", "discernible", or "identifiable".

What's the difference between "distinguishable" and "distinct"?

"Distinguishable" implies the ability to recognize a difference, while "distinct" indicates that the difference already exists. Something can be "distinct", making it "distinguishable".

Which is correct: "distinguishable from" or "distinguishable than"?

The correct usage is "distinguishable from". "Than" is used for comparisons involving different degrees of the same quality, not for identifying a difference between two separate things. For example, the correct phrase is "distinguishable from" and not "distinguishable than".