difference between

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The way in which two people, things or ideas are not alike.

   Grammar: Followed by two items joined by and: the difference between tea and coffee.

   Patterns

   • the difference between X and Y
   • a difference between them

   What is the difference between a lake and a pond?

   There is a huge difference between knowing and doing.

   The difference between the two phones is mostly the camera.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasemathematics

   The amount by which one number or quantity is larger than another.

   Grammar: Used with numbers; the answer is a subtraction result.

   Patterns

   • the difference between X and Y is Z

   The difference between ten and four is six.

   The difference between the two prices was five dollars.

   What is the difference between their ages?

3. 3phraseidiom

   The ability to tell two things apart, used with 'know' or 'tell'.

   Grammar: Appears in the idioms know the difference and tell the difference.

   Patterns

   • know the difference between X and Y
   • tell the difference between X and Y

   Can you tell the difference between butter and margarine?

   Children must learn the difference between right and wrong.

   I can't see the difference between the two photos.

Common combinations

tell the difference between

Can you tell the difference between these two coins?

know the difference between

He doesn't know the difference between a virus and a bacterium.

a clear difference between

There is a clear difference between the two proposals.

explain the difference between

Please explain the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'.

the main difference between

The main difference between them is price.

a big difference between

There's a big difference between wanting and needing.

Synonyms and how they differ

distinction

Distinction is more formal and often refers to a subtle or important difference in meaning.

contrast

Contrast highlights the differences when two things are placed side by side.

gap

Gap suggests a space or inequality between two groups, such as between rich and poor.

disparity

Disparity is formal and often suggests an unfair difference in treatment or amount.

Opposites

Word family

different adjective

not the same

differ verb

to be unlike something

differently adverb

in another way

differentiate verb

to recognize or show how things differ

indifferent adjective

not interested

Commonly confused: difference between or difference from?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “difference between”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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