Master Discrepancy Collocations: 36 Essential Phrases for Advanced English Communication

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Mastering collocations with "discrepancy" transforms your English from basic to sophisticated. These carefully selected phrases span professional, academic, and analytical contexts, enabling you to express differences and inconsistencies with precision. These combinations will elevate your vocabulary for advanced English communication.

Master Discrepancy Collocations: 36 Essential Phrases for Advanced English Communication

I. What is Discrepancy?
II. Compilation of the most common collocations with Discrepancy
III. Exercises on collocations with Discrepancy
1. 1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words (conjugate the verbs if necessary)
2. 2. Answer

I. What is Discrepancy?

In English, Discrepancy is pronounced as /dɪˈskrep.ən.si/, functions as a noun, meaning: a difference between two things that should be the same; an unexpected difference, esp. in two amounts or two sets of facts or conditions, which suggests that something is wrong and has to be explained. For example:

There is some discrepancy between the two accounts.
The committee is reportedly unhappy about the discrepancy in numbers.

II. Compilation of the most common collocations with Discrepancy

Below is a list of the common collocations with Discrepancy that PREP has compiled and summarized. Take a look!

1. Adjectives Describing Size and Degree of Discrepancy

No.	Collocations with Discrepancy	Example
1	Apparent discrepancy /əˈpærənt dɪˈskrepənsi/	There is an apparent discrepancy between the two reports.
2	Huge discrepancy /hjuːdʒ dɪˈskrepənsi/	We noticed a huge discrepancy in the financial statements.
3	Large discrepancy /lɑːrdʒ dɪˈskrepənsi/	The audit revealed a large discrepancy in the inventory count.
4	Major discrepancy /ˈmeɪdʒər dɪˈskrepənsi/	A major discrepancy was found in the test results.
5	Minor discrepancy /ˈmaɪnər dɪˈskrepənsi/	There was a minor discrepancy in the data, but it was quickly resolved.
6	Significant discrepancy /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt dɪˈskrepənsi/	The researchers found a significant discrepancy in the experimental outcomes.
7	Slight discrepancy /slaɪt dɪˈskrepənsi/	There is a slight discrepancy between the two measurements.
8	Vast discrepancy /væst dɪˈskrepənsi/	The survey showed a vast discrepancy in public opinion on the issue.
9	Wide discrepancy /waɪd dɪˈskrepənsi/	A wide discrepancy exists between the predicted and actual sales figures.
10	Enormous discrepancy /ɪˈnɔːməs dɪˈskrepənsi/	The investigation uncovered an enormous discrepancy in the company's reported earnings.
11	Substantial discrepancy /səbˈstænʃəl dɪˈskrepənsi/	The committee identified a substantial discrepancy between the proposed and actual budget allocations.
12	Dramatic discrepancy /drəˈmætɪk dɪˈskrepənsi/	There was a dramatic discrepancy between the two witness testimonies.

2. Adjectives Describing Quality and Nature of Discrepancy

No.	Collocations with Discrepancy	Example
13	Obvious discrepancy /ˈɒbvɪəs dɪˈskrepənsi/	There was an obvious discrepancy between the two sets of data.
14	Clear discrepancy /klɪər dɪˈskrepənsi/	The analysis revealed a clear discrepancy in the research methodology.
15	Glaring discrepancy /ˈɡleərɪŋ dɪˈskrepənsi/	The glaring discrepancy in the accounts demanded immediate investigation.
16	Striking discrepancy /ˈstraɪkɪŋ dɪˈskrepənsi/	The report highlighted a striking discrepancy between urban and rural education standards.
17	Notable discrepancy /ˈnəʊtəbəl dɪˈskrepənsi/	A notable discrepancy emerged when comparing the two survey results.
18	Marked discrepancy /mɑːkt dɪˈskrepənsi/	The study showed a marked discrepancy in treatment outcomes between different age groups.
19	Troubling discrepancy /ˈtrʌbəlɪŋ dɪˈskrepənsi/	The audit committee discovered a troubling discrepancy in the pension fund calculations.
20	Worrying discrepancy /ˈwʌriɪŋ dɪˈskrepənsi/	The worrying discrepancy in patient records required immediate attention from the medical board.

3. Verbs Used with Discrepancy

No.	Collocations with Discrepancy	Example
21	Explain a discrepancy /ɪkˈspleɪn ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	Can you please explain the discrepancy between the budgeted and actual expenses?
22	Note a discrepancy /nəʊt ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	I made sure to note the discrepancy in the sales figures.
23	Notice a discrepancy /ˈnəʊtɪs ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	I noticed a discrepancy in the inventory count while doing the audit.
24	Report a discrepancy /rɪˈpɔːt ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	Employees are encouraged to report any discrepancy they find in the financial records.
25	Resolve a discrepancy /rɪˈzɒlv ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	It's important to resolve any discrepancy in the accounts before finalizing the report.
26	Identify a discrepancy /aɪˈdentɪfaɪ ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The accountant was able to identify the discrepancy within minutes of reviewing the spreadsheet.
27	Discover a discrepancy /dɪˈskʌvər ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The forensic team discovered a discrepancy in the digital timestamps.
28	Investigate a discrepancy /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The regulatory body decided to investigate the discrepancy in the clinical trial data.
29	Address a discrepancy /əˈdres ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The management team met to address the discrepancy in quarterly projections.
30	Highlight a discrepancy /ˈhaɪlaɪt ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The independent review highlighted a discrepancy in the procurement process.

4. Prepositions and Phrases with Discrepancy

No.	Collocations with Discrepancy	Example
31	Discrepancy between /dɪˈskrepənsi bɪˈtwiːn/	The discrepancy between theory and practice became evident during the experiment.
32	Discrepancy in /dɪˈskrepənsi ɪn/	There was a discrepancy in the witness statements that puzzled the investigators.
33	Discrepancy among /dɪˈskrepənsi əˈmʌŋ/	The discrepancy among the test scores suggested inconsistent grading standards.
34	Discrepancy with /dɪˈskrepənsi wɪð/	The new findings showed a discrepancy with previously published research.
35	Bridge a discrepancy /brɪdʒ ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The mediator worked to bridge the discrepancy between the two negotiating parties.
36	Account for a discrepancy /əˈkaʊnt fər ə dɪˈskrepənsi/	The research team struggled to account for the discrepancy in their experimental results.

These collocations will enhance your English vocabulary precision and help you express differences, inconsistencies, and variations with greater sophistication in both spoken and written communication.

For more collocations with Discrepancy, click on the link below:

EXPLORE MORE COLLOCATIONS WITH DISCREPANCY ON CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY!

III. Exercises on collocations with Discrepancy

To better understand the meanings of the collocations with Discrepancy, let's complete the exercise section below!

1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words (conjugate the verbs if necessary)

large discrepancy; apparent discrepancy; huge discrepancy; major discrepancy; minor discrepancy; major discrepancy; explain a discrepancy; notice a discrepancy; note a discrepancy; resolve a discrepancy; obvious discrepancy; report a discrepancy

This does not resolve the _________ between children's polynomial and mutual exclusivity.
Thus, the direction of the occupational income gap change over time agrees with the data, but there is a __________ in orders of magnitudes.
During middle age, however, there is a _________.
It certainly appears that there may have been a _________ between the “ideal” of old age for middle and upper-class women and the reality of people's lives.
There will be a __________ but not a serious problem for legal widows.
There was a ________ between the sales numbers reported by the two departments.
The accountant was asked to ________ in the financial records.
PoThe manager ________ in the inventory report and requested an investigation.
After reviewing the documents, the auditor ______________ between the budgeted and actual expenses.
The project manager tried to ______________ between the original timeline and the current progress.
The ________ between the customer's order and the delivered product was immediately apparent.
The HR department was asked to ______________ in the payroll records.
The team leader ______________ in the quarterly sales figures.
Management insisted that they ________ in the financial statements before the board meeting.
The employee ___________ in the expense report and submitted it for review.

2. Answer

1 - apparent discrepancy	2 - huge discrepancy	3 - large discrepancy	4 - major discrepancy	5 - minor discrepancy
6 - major discrepancy	7 - explain a discrepancy	8 - noticed a discrepancy	9 - noted a discrepancy	10 - resolve a discrepancy
11 - obvious discrepancy	12 - resolve a discrepancy	13 - noticed a discrepancy	14 - noted a discrepancy	15 - reported a discrepancy

Command of collocations with discrepancy signals advanced English proficiency. These 36 phrases provide the linguistic tools needed for academic writing, professional reports, and analytical discussions. Practice incorporating them into your vocabulary repertoire—from identifying "striking discrepancies" in research to explaining "minor discrepancies" in everyday situations. Your enhanced precision in expressing differences will distinguish your English communication in any context.

Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.