number of differences

USAGE SUMMARY

"number of differences" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing two things and you want to emphasize how many differences there are between them. For example: "The number of differences between the two versions of the document was quite staggering."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is the current situation different from 20 years ago? A. There are a number of differences.

The New York Times

A certain number of differences can be drawn.

University of California, Berkeley

Still, a number of differences set the two apart, starting with the chicken.

The New York Times

A "distance" is the number of differences between two taxa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The distance matrix was calculated by counting the number of differences.

Nature

There are a number of differences between gate and adiabatic QC.

The Washington Post

There are a number of differences between the CFA program and the MIT Sloan MFin program.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The bacterial and fungal sequences showed a considerable number of differences between mosquitoes from Cairns and Bangkok (Fig. 2b,c).

Nature

There are a number of differences between the talk surrounding the Duke-Butler game and that Duke-U.N.L.V. game.

The New York Times - Sports

Beyond the estate tax, the House and Senate bills have a number of differences that must be resolved.

The Washington Post

The student drawn systems displayed a number of differences in both how water was collected and how it was distributed.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing datasets, explicitly state the criteria used to determine the "number of differences". This ensures clarity and reproducibility.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "there are a "number of differences"". Instead, be specific about what characteristics are being compared to determine those differences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "number of differences" functions as a noun phrase, quantifying the dissimilarities or variations between two or more entities. It's commonly used to emphasize the extent of these differences, as exemplified by the various instances found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

31%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "number of differences" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that quantifies the dissimilarities between entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for diverse formal contexts, particularly in science, news, and academic domains. When using this phrase, clarity is key; specify the criteria for comparison to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "degree of variation" exist, "number of differences" provides a direct and easily understood metric for assessing divergence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degree of variation

Focuses on the extent to which things differ.

extent of dissimilarity

Highlights how much things are unlike each other.

quantity of variations

Emphasizes the count of changes or differences.

count of discrepancies

Focuses on disagreements or inconsistencies.

range of distinctions

Highlights the breadth of different features.

level of contrast

Stresses the degree to which things are opposed.

amount of divergence

Indicates how much things split or move apart.

frequency of deviations

Highlights how often things stray from a norm.

numerical disparity

Emphasizes the numerical difference between items.

magnitude of contrasts

Focuses on the size or importance of the differences.

FAQs

How can I use "number of differences" in a sentence?

You can use "number of differences" to quantify the dissimilarities between two or more entities. For example: "The "number of differences" between the two proposals was substantial."

What are some alternatives to "number of differences"?

Alternatives include "degree of variation", "extent of dissimilarity", or "quantity of variations". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "number of differences" or "amount of differences"?

"Number" is generally preferred when referring to countable items, making "number of differences" more grammatically sound than "amount of differences" in most contexts.

How does the context affect the interpretation of "number of differences"?

The context determines which specific attributes or features are being compared. For example, in genetics, the "number of differences" might refer to genetic variations, while in finance, it could relate to discrepancies in financial statements.