What does differentiation mean?
Word: Differentiation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Differentiation means the act of telling things apart, or of showing how they are not alike.
Synonyms: separation, contrast
How do you spell differentiation?
Syllables: dif - fer - en - ti - a - tion
Tricky part: The sh sound near the end is spelt ti, not ci: differentiation, never differenciation.
Watch out for: differenciation, differentation, differensiation
Memory tip: Here t-i makes the sh sound, just as it does in patient and initial.
Differentiation in a sentence
Example 1: There is a clear differentiation between a crocodile and an alligator if you look at the snout.
Example 2: The new rule makes no differentiation between day scholars and boarders.
Example 3: Colour coding helps with the differentiation of wet and dry waste.
Fun Fact
In biology, differentiation is the process by which cells in a growing embryo become specialised, turning into nerve, muscle, blood or skin cells.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
diff_r_ntiation
a) a, e
b) e, a
c) i, e
d) e, e
Show answer
d) e, e. Both blanks take e: diff-e-r-e-n.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. diferentiation 2. classification 3. conversation 4. multiplication
a) repeated adding of the same number
b) telling things apart or showing how they are unlike
c) sorting things into groups
d) a talk between people
Show answer
b) telling things apart or showing how they are unlike. Diferentiation needs one more f; the word meant is differentiation, so its meaning is the answer.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to differentiation as used in the sentence:
The new science book makes a clear differentiation between living and non-living things.
a) distinction
b) similarity
c) combination
d) confusion
Show answer
a) distinction. Making a differentiation is drawing a distinction; similarity and confusion point the other way.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is an example of differentiation?
a) painting every classroom wall the same colour
b) giving every student an identical lunch box
c) sorting library books into fiction and non-fiction
d) putting all the library books in one big heap
Show answer
c) sorting library books into fiction and non-fiction
2. A teacher who uses differentiation in class ____.
a) marks all the tests on the same day
b) gives every student the same worksheet
c) seats students in alphabetical order
d) sets tasks to suit each student's level
Show answer
d) sets tasks to suit each student's level
