outstanding differences

USAGE SUMMARY

"outstanding differences" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to differences that are notable and particularly important in the context of the conversation. For example, "After examining the evidence, the judge ruled that the outstanding differences between both parties could not be resolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

At the same time, there are still outstanding differences between the manufacturers and insurers.

The New York Times

Mr. Bayh said he was eager to see what the group put forward to bridge outstanding differences.

The New York Times - Health

The only failure was in not signing an intended "Bilateral Investment Treaty", because of some outstanding differences.

The Economist

Mr. Arafat and the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, have committed to Feb. 13 as a deadline to develop a framework for negotiating outstanding differences, including Jerusalem.

The New York Times

Even with the outstanding differences, Turkey's leaders had tried to persuade reluctant party members, twice postponing a vote to bring them along.

The New York Times

As countries around the world cheer the preliminary deal, Rezaian's family issued a sobering reminder of some of the outstanding differences between the two countries.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The outstanding difference was that the Bifrost reliably made the soundstage larger in each dimension.

The New York Times - Tech

There is, however, an outstanding difference regarding the transformation efficiency of the two linearized plasmids.

AMB Express

Another outstanding difference between the groups is the comment regarding the time-consuming aspect of shadowing by HP participants (n = 3).

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

The outstanding difference of GAPDH among strain ATCC 1015 YX-1217G and YX-1217 indicathatthat it should be one of the key enzymes in central metabolism, closely regulating the production of CA. The expression level of gene 100101 (An18g01670), which encodes 6-phosphofructokinase (6-Pfk), was downregulated in YX-1217 athehe stage of 40 h.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

Another outstanding difference between the House and Senate versions concerns which countries are affected.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outstanding differences", ensure the context clearly indicates what entities or parties have these differences. For example, specify "outstanding differences between the two companies" for clarity.

Common error

While "outstanding differences" is grammatically correct, it often sounds overly formal in casual conversation. In less formal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "unresolved issues" or "remaining problems".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding differences" functions as a noun phrase, where "outstanding" acts as a pre-modifying adjective specifying the type of "differences". Ludwig shows that it's primarily used to denote issues that remain unresolved.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding differences" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote significant, unresolved issues. As Ludwig highlights, it appears most frequently in news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While correct, be mindful of the register; in casual conversation, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Key synonyms include "unresolved issues" and "remaining disagreements". Ludwig AI confirms that this is a valid phrase in written English, noting its use in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant disagreements

Emphasizes the importance of the disagreements.

unresolved discrepancies

Replaces "differences" with "discrepancies" to emphasize the lack of alignment or consistency.

remaining disagreements

Substitutes "outstanding" with "remaining" and "differences" with "disagreements" to highlight the persistence of the issues.

lingering disputes

Replaces "outstanding" with "lingering" to emphasize duration and "differences" with "disputes" for a more contentious tone.

unsettled matters

Uses a more general term, "matters", to refer to the issues, emphasizing that they are unresolved.

open questions

Reframes the differences as questions that still need answers.

pending issues

Emphasizes that the issues are awaiting resolution.

unaddressed concerns

Highlights that the differences are matters that have not been adequately dealt with.

existing conflicts

Presents the differences as ongoing conflicts.

unreconciled viewpoints

Focuses on the differing perspectives that have not been brought into agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "outstanding differences" in a sentence?

You can use "outstanding differences" to describe unresolved disagreements or issues. For example, "The negotiations failed due to "outstanding differences" regarding financial contributions."

What are some alternatives to "outstanding differences"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "unresolved issues", "remaining disagreements", or "lingering disputes".

What is the difference between "outstanding differences" and "significant differences"?

"Outstanding differences" emphasizes that the differences are unresolved and still need to be addressed, while "significant differences" simply highlights that the differences are important or noteworthy.

Is "outstanding differences" a formal or informal phrase?

"Outstanding differences" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, phrases like "unresolved issues" or "remaining problems" might be more appropriate.