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Square Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Is/Are there any difference(s) in pronunciation between them?

For example, I want to ask about the differences in pronunciation between "fate" and "fete", which one is correct?

1. Is there any difference in pronunciation between them?
2. Are there any differences in pronunciation between them?
I think in #1, the person asked only need to list only one difference while #2 all differences should be listed.
Is that correct?
  

Top answer

Well, strictly speaking, neither asks what the difference(s) are. They are both yes/no questions. Putting that aside, I think that yours is an overly intricate interpretation.

— GPY

  • Well, strictly speaking, neither asks what the difference(s) are.
  • They are both yes/no questions.
  • Putting that aside, I think that yours is an overly intricate interpretation.
  • For complicated things with many parts, it may become more important to say "differences", but with such a simple comparison it hardly matters.
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3 Answers
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Well, strictly speaking, neither asks what the difference(s) are. They are both yes/no questions. Putting that aside, I think that yours is an overly intricate interpretation. For complicated things with many parts, it may become more important to say "differences", but with such a simple comparison it hardly matters.
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Square Is there any difference in pronunciation between them?
Use this. The listener will understand that "the difference" may consist of several features that are different. In English we are not expected to know how many differences there are between two things before we ask a question about the difference.
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CalifJimThe listener will understand that "the difference" may consist of several features that are different. In English we are not expected to know how many differences there are between two things before we ask a question about the difference.
In the case of large and complicated things, where many differences are to be expected, I think the distinction may
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