What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discern
Example
I could discern a faint outline of the mountains in the distance. [discern: verb]
Example
It's difficult to discern the difference between these two shades of blue. [discern: verb]
Example
She struggled to discern the meaning behind his cryptic message. [discern: verb]
differentiate
Example
Can you differentiate between these two species of birds? [differentiate: verb]
Example
The company's new product is designed to differentiate itself from competitors. [differentiate: verb]
Example
The teacher asked us to differentiate between the different types of clouds. [differentiate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Differentiate is more commonly used than discern in everyday language. Differentiate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while discern is less common and often used in more formal or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between discern and differentiate?
Both discern and differentiate are formal words that are often used in academic or professional contexts. However, discern may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its positive connotation and less frequent usage in everyday language.
