drew a sharp distinction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drew a sharp distinction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing a clear difference between two or more concepts, ideas, or categories. Example: "In her lecture, she drew a sharp distinction between the roles of leadership and management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Menand drew a sharp distinction between 21st-­century Americans and the readers of Trilling's day.

The New York Times - Books

In particular, they drew a sharp distinction between physical property and intellectual property.

The New Yorker

In the interview with Harwood, Perry drew a sharp distinction between himself and Romney.

The Washington Post

Ryan, in contrast, drew a sharp distinction between terrorist radicals and Muslims at-large.

The Washington Post

Ambassador Barshefsky drew a sharp distinction between diplomatic and business negotiations, stating that each required a different approach.

Harvard University

Mr. Baudis said that he drew a sharp distinction between erotic films, which he said were perfectly acceptable, and pornography.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

But a tax code that drew a sharper distinction between the upper middle class and the extremely wealthy, while keeping its top rate below, say, 50percentt, seems more conceivable.

The New York Times - Magazine

But, over time, he'd stopped drawing a sharp distinction between the various levels of punishment.

The New Yorker

Professor Hanke draws a sharp distinction between dollarisation and monetary union.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Wu draws a sharp distinction, however, between that work and creating embryos for science.

The New York Times

The report draws a sharp distinction between modifying embryos and modifying the DNA of adults and children.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drew a sharp distinction", ensure that the context clearly identifies what two or more elements are being differentiated and why the distinction matters for your argument or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "drew a sharp distinction" when the difference is subtle or insignificant. Overusing this phrase for minor variations can weaken its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drew a sharp distinction" functions as a verbial phrase indicating the act of clearly differentiating or distinguishing between two or more things. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used to highlight significant differences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drew a sharp distinction" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to emphasize a clear difference between two or more concepts. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms its frequent appearance in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the distinction is significant and clearly defined. Alternatives include "made a clear demarcation" or "differentiated clearly". While versatile, avoid overusing it for minor differences to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made a clear demarcation

Replaces "drew" with "made" and "sharp distinction" with "clear demarcation", highlighting the act of setting a boundary.

established a firm boundary

Substitutes the action with "established" and uses "firm boundary" to emphasize a well-defined separation.

differentiated clearly

Focuses on the act of differentiation with an emphasis on clarity.

set apart distinctly

Emphasizes the separation and uniqueness between the items being compared.

distinguished unequivocally

Highlights the act of distinguishing in a way that leaves no room for doubt.

marked a notable divergence

Replaces the act of 'drawing' with 'marking', emphasizing a significant point of separation or difference.

specified a precise difference

Focuses on the exactness of the difference that was defined.

discerned a crucial dissimilarity

Emphasizes the importance of the recognized difference.

identified a contrasting aspect

Highlights the recognition of opposing characteristics.

separated with precision

Focuses on the act of separating items accurately and carefully.

FAQs

How can I use "drew a sharp distinction" in a sentence?

Use "drew a sharp distinction" to emphasize a clear difference between two or more concepts. For example: "The author "drew a sharp distinction" between the two economic theories."

What's the difference between ""drew a sharp distinction"" and "drew a clear distinction"?

"Drew a sharp distinction" emphasizes a more pronounced difference, while "drew a clear distinction" simply highlights that the difference is easy to perceive.

What can I say instead of ""drew a sharp distinction""?

You can use alternatives like "made a clear demarcation", "established a firm boundary", or "differentiated clearly depending on the context.

Is ""drew a sharp distinction"" formal or informal?

"Drew a sharp distinction" is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, such as academic papers, news articles, and professional reports. It may sound somewhat out of place in very informal conversation.