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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
made distinction
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "made distinction" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "made a distinction" or "made distinctions." Example: "In her essay, she made a distinction between the two theories to clarify her argument."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
This is the result of another frequently made distinction, the one between "active" and "passive" euthanasia.Passive euthanasia switching off respirators or other life-support machines—happens in hospitals all the time.
News & Media
The result, says Whitehead, is that the commonly made distinction between technical education and liberal education "is fallacious.
Science
Additionally, it became evident during the analysis that multiple SNPs in an amplified region made distinction more difficult, though it was still possible in the best cases.
Science
Many studies refer to the frequently made distinction between fundamental science, on the one hand; and applied science (such as science-for-policy), on the other.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
From 1899 to 1924, she said, immigration officials even made distinctions among Italians.
News & Media
Decades ago, the tax code made distinctions between gradations of wealth by using more income brackets.
News & Media
Tax policies encouraging needed produce made distinctions between land use to determine tax levies.
Wiki
The European Community Health Indicators-Project (ECHI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have made distinctions between hazardous and harmful drinking.
Science
Previous studies have not made distinctions regarding the duration of PEs.
Science
This makes Distinction 1 inactive.
Science
The median count was used to make distinction between low and high MVD.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always use "made a distinction" or "made distinctions" instead of "made distinction" to ensure grammatical correctness.
Common error
Avoid omitting the article "a" when intending to say "made a distinction". The absence of the article results in a grammatically incorrect phrase.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "made distinction" functions as a verb phrase where "made" is the past tense of "make", but it is grammatically incomplete due to the missing article. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not standard written English. The correct usage is "made a distinction" or "made distinctions".
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "made distinction" aims to express the act of differentiation, it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct forms are "made a distinction" or "made distinctions". Although examples exist in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist, their presence does not legitimize the error. Remember to include the article "a" for singular instances, or use the plural form “distinctions” to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
drew a distinction
Emphasizes the act of creating a separation or difference.
made a differentiation
Highlights the process of identifying differences.
identified a distinction
Focuses on recognizing an already existing difference.
recognized a difference
Simply acknowledges a disparity between items.
distinguished between
Specifically targets the act of telling apart two or more items.
discerned a variation
Implies a more subtle or nuanced difference was observed.
noted a contrast
Highlights the presence of opposing characteristics.
separated categories
Focuses on the act of sorting into distinct groups.
established a distinction
Stresses the creation and formalization of a difference.
differentiated clearly
Focuses on clarity and precision when discriminating.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "made distinction" in a sentence?
The grammatically correct forms are "made a distinction" or "made distinctions". For example, "The author "made a distinction" between the two concepts".
What can I say instead of "made distinction"?
You can use alternatives like "drew a distinction", "identified a distinction", or "recognized a difference depending on the context.
Which is correct, "made distinction" or "made a distinction"?
"Made a distinction" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "Made distinction" omits the necessary article 'a'.
What's the difference between "made a distinction" and "made distinctions"?
"Made a distinction" refers to a single instance of differentiating, while "made distinctions" implies multiple differentiations or a pattern of distinguishing between things.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested