Master confusing words with ease
Discrepancy vs. Disparity
Discrepancy
/dɪˈskrepənsi/Examples:
A discrepancy arose between the accounts and the actual figures.The audit revealed a significant discrepancy in the inventory.They found a discrepancy in the test results during review.
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Antonyms:
Disparity
/dɪˈspærəti/Examples:
The economic disparity between regions widens yearly.A significant disparity in education access persists globally.Gender disparity issues are central to modern discussions.
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Ways to tell them apart:
- "Discrepancy" often refers to a difference between things that should, in theory, agree with each other, like results, accounts, or records.
- "Disparity" usually emphasizes a condition of being unequal or a great difference between two things or more.
- Discrepancies occur in specific instances, such as when checking calculations; disparities are more about the general inequality or distinction, such as income disparity.
- Think of "discrepancy" as a problem that might need correcting, whereas "disparity" is often an observation or critique of a difference.
- When logging errors in documents, you note discrepancies; when discussing social issues, you often mention disparities.
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