Difference or differences

Hi,

Can anyone tell me when I should use difference and when I should use differences?

The short answer is, it depends on whether you are speaking about one difference or more than one.

A longer answer is this. The word difference has two slightly different meanings.

1. The condition or state of being different.

eg

In some cases, I definitely know which word I should use. But in other cases, it's still a puzzle for me.

Hi,

If you want to write some sentences that puzzle you and post them here, I can try to help.

Clive

Hi,

For example,

1. Is there any difference between these two words?

2. Are there any differences between these two words?

Which one is correct?

Cateran

Hi,

1. Is there any difference between these two words? This is the normal thing that would be said. It means 'Do these words have the same meaning?'

2. Are there any differences between these two words? This sounds much more specific. 'What are the points of difference, the detailed differences?' If I wanted to be really

Clive
Hi,

1. Is there any difference between these two words? This is the normal thing that would be said. It means 'Do these words have the same meaning?'

2. Are there any differences between these two words? This sounds much more specific. 'What are the points of difference, the detailed dif

Hi again,

1. Is there any difference between these two words? 2. Are there any differences between these two words?

In 1, is "difference" used as an uncountable noun? or else one would say "differences", but not "difference", wouldn't he/she/they?

thank you, Clive.