marking a difference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marking a difference" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you would like to emphasize the importance of something, like the impact or significance of a particular action or occurrence. For example, "His dedication to helping others was truly commendable, marking a difference in the lives of countless people."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It means single tickets would cost roughly half the return fare, marking a difference from the current pricing structure, in which there is sometimes little difference between the cost of the two ticket types.

BBC

The things that happen vary from exposure to exposure, and he deems about two thirds of his work unusable, marking a difference between his practice and that of photographers like David Johnson, who use a camera to capture the fiery bursts.

Vice

The rationale is that any position change is valid for marking a difference between sequences.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

These changes were unrelated to any of the serum energy indicators studied, marking a difference with interleukin 1β, related to both insulin and leptin.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

According to one authority discrimination as it is ordinarily used, refers to a process of noticing or marking a difference, often for evaluative purposes, and the most common synonyms for the verb to 'discriminate' are to 'distinguish' and to 'differentiate', which in turn denotes recognizing, discerning, appreciating or identifying difference.

BMC Medical Ethics

Marking a difference from traditional post physical-design static voltage drop analysis, a priori dynamic voltage drop evaluation is the focus of this work.

Integration, the VLSI Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Kafka may have marked a difference between sleeping and waking, but did Krzhizhanovsky?

The New York Times - Books

This marks a difference between Trump and his fellow member of the fractional one per cent, Mitt Romney.

The New Yorker

This marks a difference, Arnold said, from what we know about many eminent achievers, who tend to evince an early passion for a particular field.

The New Yorker

It marks a difference between British and American literature from the start that the New World's founding figure is a woman.

The Guardian - Books

It marks a difference from a PwC report back in January, in which climate change ranked so low on the risk of chief executives' list of concerns that it didn't even make the survey.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marking a difference" to emphasize the importance of a specific action or event that leads to a noticeable change or distinction. This phrase works well when highlighting positive impacts or significant deviations from the norm.

Common error

Avoid using "marking a difference" in very casual or informal settings. It may sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "making a change" or "helping out" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marking a difference" functions as a verb phrase acting as a gerund (or present participle) functioning adjectivally to describe a noun or pronoun, indicating the act of causing a noticeable change or distinction. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, often to emphasize the importance or impact of a specific action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "marking a difference" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to highlight significant impacts or distinctions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness for emphasizing the importance of an action or event. It is mostly found in science, news and media, and academic contexts and is considered to have a neutral to formal register. While alternatives like "making a change" or "making an impact" exist, "marking a difference" is particularly effective when stressing a clear and noticeable shift.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making an impact

Focuses on the positive influence or effect created.

having a significant effect

Highlights the importance or magnitude of the result.

creating a distinction

Emphasizes the act of setting something apart from others.

making a change

Focuses on the act of altering something.

leaving a mark

Suggests a lasting impact or impression.

setting apart

Highlights the unique characteristics that distinguish something.

distinguishing itself

Focuses on self-differentiation from other entities.

making headway

Implies progress or advancement toward a goal.

bringing about change

Emphasizes the act of initiating or causing transformation.

exerting influence

Highlights the power to affect or sway something.

FAQs

How can I use "marking a difference" in a sentence?

You can use "marking a difference" to highlight a significant impact or distinction. For example, "Her innovative approach to problem-solving was "marking a difference" in the company's performance".

What's a simpler way to say "marking a difference"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "making an impact", "making a change", or "helping out" as simpler alternatives to "marking a difference".

Is it better to say "making a difference" or "marking a difference"?

"Making a difference" is generally more common and versatile. "Marking a difference" is suitable when you want to emphasize a clear and distinct change or contrast. Both are correct, but the nuance differs.

What does "marking a difference" imply about the action being described?

It suggests that the action is not just any change, but one that is significant, noticeable, and sets something apart from what was before. The change is clear and distinct, contributing notably.