What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
differentially
Example
The company rewards its employees differentially based on their performance. [differentially: adverb]
Example
The doctor prescribed medication differentially for each patient, taking into account their medical history. [differentially: adverb]
distinctively
Example
The artist's work is distinctively abstract and colorful. [distinctively: adverb]
Example
The restaurant is known for its distinctively spicy cuisine. [distinctively: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distinctively is more commonly used than differentially in everyday language. Distinctively is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while differentially is less common and often used in technical or specialized fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between differentially and distinctively?
Both differentially and distinctively can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, differentially may be more commonly used in technical or academic writing, while distinctively may be more commonly used in creative or descriptive writing.
