drastic discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drastic discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant difference or variation between two or more things, often in a context where the difference is surprising or concerning. Example: "The audit revealed a drastic discrepancy between the reported and actual sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The teacher's submission says the results show a "drastic discrepancy" between the outcomes of the internally and externally marked papers.

Independent

A complaint against the Harris Academy Beckenham, in south London, has been lodged with the exams regulator Ofqual claiming that there is a "drastic discrepancy" between the grades awarded for coursework marked internally by teachers – especially for the paper's speaking and listening section – and the externally marked written exam at the end of the course.

Independent

This drastic discrepancy was also seen in the microarray data [ 32].

BMC Genomics

Drastic discrepancy between apparent negligibility of the cause and gravity of the effects suggests that the malignant tumor is endowed with a special killer function (Lichtenstein 2005b, 2008).

Clinical Epigenetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But one element of this game that's not getting enough attention is the drastic discrepancies between the two teams' pass defense.

Huffington Post

However, although only a small fraction of available plants constitute a suitable food source for most insect species, contrasts of herbivore versus plant phylogenies have in many cases revealed drastic discrepancies between the phylogenetic trees [ 18- 20].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The drastic price discrepancy has many wondering whether a trading error was at the root of the slide, and reports on CNBC suggest it may be the case.

Forbes

In [17], the standard maximum likelihood integration ideal observer approach failed with drastic qualitative discrepancy compared to human performance; however, this was due to simple maximum likelihood fusion being an inappropriate model rather than the failure of ideal observer modelling.

Plosone

With this model, we are able to understand the results of experiments on human multisensory oddity detection [17] which the classical maximum likelihood integration theory, and other simpler theories for cue combination, fails to model with drastic qualitative discrepancy.

Plosone

The most probable explanation for the discrepancy in the pH values causing the drastic reduction in infectivity is the difference in experimental conditions (medium and temperature).

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Restricting the dosage of the product alarms people and the industry because the action is perceived as a potentially slippery slope and because there is an enormous discrepancy regarding the necessity and effectiveness of such a drastic reduction.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drastic discrepancy" when you want to emphasize a surprising or concerning difference, especially when initial expectations suggested otherwise. It is best suited for formal writing and reports.

Common error

Avoid using "drastic discrepancy" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "big difference" or "major issue" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drastic discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, where "drastic" modifies the noun "discrepancy". It is used to emphasize a significant and often unexpected difference or inconsistency. Ludwig AI showcases its use in contexts ranging from academic findings to news reports.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drastic discrepancy" is a phrase used to highlight a significant and often concerning difference or inconsistency. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it appears most frequently in news and media, science and academic contexts. While grammatically correct and understandable, its usage should be reserved for formal settings where emphasizing the magnitude of the difference is essential. For more casual communication, alternatives like "big difference" or "major inconsistency" may be more fitting. The expert rating reflects that, while correct, the phrase is not universally applicable and benefits from careful contextual consideration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant difference

This alternative replaces "drastic" with "significant", indicating a notable difference without necessarily implying it's extreme.

extreme variation

Uses "extreme" instead of "drastic" to emphasize the severity of the difference or change.

major inconsistency

Replaces both words, focusing on the lack of consistency and the importance of it.

substantial variation

Uses "substantial" and "variation" to denote a considerable difference, softening the intensity of "drastic".

notable disparity

Focuses on the inequality or difference between two things using the word "disparity", which is more formal.

marked contrast

Emphasizes the difference as a "contrast" that is clearly noticeable.

striking divergence

Highlights the deviation or separation using the adjective "striking" to underscore its impact.

pronounced difference

Replaces "drastic" with "pronounced", indicating that the difference is very noticeable or obvious.

considerable gap

Replaces "discrepancy" with "gap", highlighting the space or interval between two things.

acute divergence

Suggests a sharp and significant split or deviation, using "acute" to intensify the sense of difference.

FAQs

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

You can use "drastic discrepancy" to highlight a significant and unexpected difference between two sets of data or expectations. For example, "The audit revealed a "drastic discrepancy" between the reported and actual sales figures."

What's a less formal way to say "drastic discrepancy"?

Alternatives include "big difference", "major inconsistency", or "huge gap", depending on the specific context.

Is "drastic discrepancy" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, "drastic discrepancy" is suitable for academic writing when you need to emphasize a significant and unexpected difference or inconsistency in your research or analysis. It conveys a sense of severity and importance.

What words usually accompany "drastic discrepancy"?

Common words that accompany "drastic discrepancy" include "between", "in", "reveal", "highlight", "show", and "report", as in "The report showed a "drastic discrepancy" in the data."