tell the difference

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That mordant humor, however enjoyable, tiptoes around the unanswerable question of how, or even whether, we can tell the difference between cosplay and the real thing.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

Their measurements allowed them to identify separate stages of cancer development, tell the difference between activated and inactive immune cells, and distinguish cancerous regions from healthy regions in human breast tissue.

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

He turned to the audience for questions, but only found McCartney there, who still couldn’t tell the difference between the host and the drummer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

People can tell the difference between making a decision and delegating it to a system.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

“To its owner, it’s just warm. That’s how you can tell the difference between an arcanist and someone who has a knack for finding water or guessing at the weather.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss