gross discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

"gross discrepancy" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a large difference or disparity between two or more things. For example, "After the audit was complete, it was revealed that there was a gross discrepancy between the company's reported financials and their actual financial situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Surely, in the light of the gross discrepancy that has appeared post exam results, all the controlled-assessment written scripts need to be called in and if possible compared to the exam scripts".

Independent

A call to action in response to Occupy Wall Street and the gross discrepancy of wealth?

Huffington Post

So there's a gross discrepancy between the need and the supply of resettlement; and there's nothing more predictable under those circumstances that a black market will emerge.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We found gross discrepancies between the Stock Cards filled in at the health centres and the Patient Records.

BMC Health Services Research

This observation is reflected in Fig. 6, where the insolvency administrator's (gross) payoff increases in the discrepancy between u and r.

Business Research

Evidently, these discrepancies translate into gross inequalities with regard to global health care.

Human Reproduction Update

The discrepancy between the leap in gross receipts and the growth in paid attendance can be explained in part by the popularity of premium tickets, for shows like "Wicked" and "The Phantom of the Opera," above, which can command three times the regular price of a top orchestra seat.

The New York Times

This discrepancy is consistent with GATS; however the gross prevalence amongst males in Uttarakhand (69%) is far higher than the national average for males (48 57%) [ 7].

BioMed Research International

The discrepancies have led to the operational definition of gross and net N2 fixation [16], [18] as measured by the ARA and the 15N2-tracer addition approaches, respectively.

Plosone

There are several reasons for the discrepancy between these estimates, including a focus on net rather than gross emissions, different time periods which will capture lower historical rates of deforestation e.g.g

Carbon Balance and Management

Several discrepancies were observed between preoperative and postoperative values, including existence of ulcer, gross type, and histology (all McNemar p-values were <0.001).

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gross discrepancy", ensure you can quantify or clearly demonstrate the magnitude of the difference. Avoid using it for minor or negligible discrepancies.

Common error

Avoid using "gross discrepancy" to describe small or insignificant differences. This can weaken your argument and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gross discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, where "gross" modifies the noun "discrepancy". According to Ludwig AI, it's used to point out a substantial difference. Examples show its use in diverse contexts, from exam results to financial data.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gross discrepancy" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a significant and often concerning difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to emphasize the magnitude of a disparity, signaling potential problems. While its occurrence is rare, it is primarily found in news and media, and scientific contexts. Related phrases include "significant difference" and "major inconsistency". Remember to use "gross discrepancy" when the difference is truly substantial and to avoid overstating minor variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant difference

Replaces "discrepancy" with a more general term for difference, while retaining the emphasis on the magnitude.

major inconsistency

Substitutes both "gross" and "discrepancy" with synonyms that highlight the lack of alignment between two things.

large disparity

Uses "disparity" to emphasize the inequality or difference between two things and "large" as a synonym of "gross".

substantial variation

Focuses on the degree of change or difference between data points or values.

marked contrast

Emphasizes the obvious and easily noticeable difference between two things.

striking imbalance

Highlights the lack of equilibrium or proportion between two elements.

obvious contradiction

Suggests a direct conflict or opposition between two statements or facts.

glaring incongruity

Implies a stark and easily visible lack of harmony or compatibility.

extreme divergence

Emphasizes the act of moving in different directions or deviating from a common point.

palpable contradiction

Uses "palpable" which means so obvious that it can easily be seen or known to qualify the type of contradiction.

FAQs

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

You can use "gross discrepancy" to highlight a significant difference between two sets of data, figures or accounts. For example: "There was a gross discrepancy between the company's reported profits and its actual tax filings".

What is a good alternative to "gross discrepancy"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use phrases like "significant difference", "major inconsistency", or "large disparity".

What does "gross" mean in the context of "gross discrepancy"?

In this context, "gross" doesn't mean disgusting. Instead, it intensifies the noun, emphasizing that the "discrepancy" is particularly large, obvious, or unacceptable.

Is there a difference between "discrepancy" and "gross discrepancy"?

Yes, while "discrepancy" simply indicates a difference or inconsistency, "gross discrepancy" implies that the difference is substantial and likely problematic or indicative of an error or wrongdoing.