prices differ

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prices differ" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing variations in costs for products or services in different contexts or locations. Example: "In this market, prices differ significantly between brands, so it's essential to compare before making a purchase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Retail prices differ widely too.

The Economist

Across the UK, house prices differ vastly.

The Guardian

However, even among private colleges, prices differ by thousands of dollars.

The New York Times

Future prices differ from current prices only if buyers or sellers get new information.

The Economist

Welcome to the eurozone, where the coins and notes are the same but the prices differ markedly.

The Guardian

There's also a best fare finder, which will help you pick out the cheapest fare for your journey by showing how ticket prices differ from day to day.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

He said this violated antitrust rules because prices differed across the 27-member bloc, limiting consumer choice.

The New York Times - Tech

At that time, arbitragers who noticed that there were mutual funds whose share prices differed from the fund's underlying securities traded frequently to profit from the anomalies.

The New York Times

For drugs, where government intervention plays a big part, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive countries can be as big as 300%.A recent research report prepared by Lehman Brothers, an investment bank, sampled 53 homogeneous goods across the euro area and found that, on average, prices differed from the mean by 24% (see chart 1).

The Economist

Under competitive conditions, the results coincide, but in the Cournot case, the predicted prices differed significantly.

Energy Economics

Since the two drugs shared the same generic name, their ingredients, dosage type and action mechanisms were identical even as their prices differed.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing prices, specify the factors causing the differences, such as location, quality, or time.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "prices differ" implies a significant difference; clarify the magnitude of the difference to provide context and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prices differ" functions as a statement indicating a variation in the cost of goods or services. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples show it being used to compare prices across different contexts, like geographical regions or retailers.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prices differ" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates variations in costs. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. The phrase appears across diverse sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. When using "prices differ", remember to specify the factors contributing to these price discrepancies, such as location or quality, and avoid the assumption that the differences are necessarily substantial. Alternatives like "prices vary" or "prices are not uniform" can provide subtle shifts in meaning, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prices vary

Replaces "differ" with "vary", indicating a range or fluctuation in prices.

prices are not uniform

Emphasizes the lack of consistency in prices, suggesting disparity across different instances.

prices diverge

Indicates that prices are moving in different directions or separating from a common point.

price points are different

Focuses on the specific price levels, highlighting that these points are not the same.

costs are dissimilar

Uses "costs" as a synonym for prices and "dissimilar" to indicate a lack of resemblance.

prices fluctuate

Highlights the unstable and changing nature of prices over time.

prices are inconsistent

Stresses the lack of regularity and predictability in pricing.

prices show variation

Indicates that prices exhibit a degree of change or diversity.

prices contrast

Suggests a comparison where prices are noticeably distinct from one another.

prices are not the same

States a simple lack of equality in price levels.

FAQs

How can I use "prices differ" in a sentence?

You can use "prices differ" to indicate that the cost of a product or service varies depending on factors like location, vendor, or time. For instance: "The "prices differ" significantly between online and brick-and-mortar stores."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "prices differ"?

Alternatives include "prices vary", "prices are not uniform", or "prices fluctuate", each conveying a slightly different nuance about the nature of the price variation.

Is it correct to say "prices are differ"?

No, the correct phrasing is "prices differ". The verb "differ" is already in its plural form to agree with the plural subject "prices".

What factors typically cause prices to differ?

Prices can differ due to a variety of factors, including supply and demand, location, quality, brand reputation, and the presence of discounts or promotions.