relatively different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively different" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that two things are not exactly alike but they are certainly not the same. For example, "Although they both grew up in the same city, their experiences have been relatively different."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Certain parts of a single individual may grow for relatively different lengths of time and at different relative rates.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

When exposed to soils of high chloride contents (1.015 wt.%), the electrochemical behavior of rust layers was relatively different.

Nature

The judge pointed out that the agency had provided "six relatively different descriptions" of the status of the software in question.

The New York Times

Under paralleled exposure conditions, the carbon steel performed relatively different from ductile iron in both of the surface color and corrosion shape (Fig. 2b; Supplementary Fig. S2b).

Nature

These cyclized heptapeptide derivatives (UTBC101 and UTBC102) exhibited nanomolar affinity toward melanocortin MC4 receptors but had relatively different kinetic properties.

European Journal of Pharmacology

"Dalton is a competitive school with a progressive ethos, which means we subscribe to two relatively different sets of values," said an article that accompanied the survey results.

The New York Times

First, it was possibly due to the inhomogeneous characteristics of soils such as the high diffusion resistance of chloride through soils, relatively different from the atmospheric and aquatic situations under which most of the conventional conclusions were drawn.

Nature

Calcrete87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.706357 to 0.709208) show strong affinity with those obtained in aeolian carbonate dust and marine deposits, and are relatively different from those obtained in basalts.

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

These cost models were developed using two relatively different techniques: uni-variate regression (UVR) as well as multivariate regression (MVR) based on principal component analysis (PCA).

Minerals Engineering

The mEGF effect on the MCF7 cell proliferation had a relatively different outcome; mEGF simulated differential cell growth in a dose dependent manner.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Thus, different benchmarks could have driven to relatively different results.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively different" when you want to indicate that two or more things are not identical, but also not completely opposed. It implies a moderate level of distinction.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively different" when the items being compared are drastically dissimilar. In such cases, stronger terms like "completely different" or "opposite" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively different" functions as a modifier describing the degree to which two or more things are dissimilar. It serves to qualify the extent of the difference, indicating it is noticeable but not absolute. Ludwig shows the phrase is used in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively different" is a versatile expression used to describe the degree of dissimilarity between two or more items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. It implies a noticeable distinction without suggesting a complete opposition. With a high frequency of use across scientific and news media sources, "relatively different" provides a nuanced way to compare and contrast, indicating that while things are not the same, they are not entirely unalike either. When using this phrase, ensure the degree of difference aligns with the context to avoid overstating the contrast.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively divergent

Emphasizes a stronger separation or deviation.

fairly different

Implies a noticeable but not extreme level of dissimilarity.

relatively dissimilar

Directly states a lack of resemblance.

relatively distinct

Highlights a clear and recognizable difference.

rather different

Another way to indicate a significant difference.

reasonably different

Suggests a difference that is justifiable or understandable.

quite different

Emphasizes a significant degree of variation.

relatively disparate

Indicates a wide gap or inequality.

sufficiently different

The difference is enough for a specific purpose or requirement.

slightly different

Indicates a minor or subtle degree of dissimilarity.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively different" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively different" to compare two or more things that share some similarities but have noticeable distinctions. For example, "Although both models are fuel-efficient, their driving experiences are "relatively different"".

What are some alternatives to "relatively different"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "fairly different", "somewhat different", or "distinct". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "relatively different"?

It is appropriate to use "relatively different" when you want to acknowledge that there are differences between things, but those differences are not absolute or extreme. It implies a moderate level of dissimilarity.

Is "relatively different" the same as "slightly different"?

No, "relatively different" suggests a more noticeable distinction than "slightly different". While both phrases indicate dissimilarity, "relatively different" implies a more significant degree of variation.