BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:35 am
by VodkaBoy » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:43 am
Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

Hi, folks!
Does anybody know, is there significant difference between these idioms?
Does GMAT test this difference?

There is an opinion that
Distinguish A FROM B is used for different things, e.g. "I can distinguish apples from oranges" or "I can distinguish painting from photograph",
whereas Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B is used for alike things, e.g. "I can distinguish between green apples and red apples" or "I can distinguish between early paintings of DaVinci and his latest pictures"

Any thoughts?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 55 times

Re: Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

by iamcste » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:09 am
VodkaBoy wrote:Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

Hi, folks!
Does anybody know, is there significant difference between these idioms?
Does GMAT test this difference?

There is an opinion that
Distinguish A FROM B is used for different things, e.g. "I can distinguish apples from oranges" or "I can distinguish painting from photograph",
whereas Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B is used for alike things, e.g. "I can distinguish between green apples and red apples" or "I can distinguish between early paintings of DaVinci and his latest pictures"

Any thoughts?
There is one qtn in OG based on this

OG 11 edition qtn 107
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:35 am

Re: Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

by VodkaBoy » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:44 pm
iamcste wrote: There is one qtn in OG based on this

OG 11 edition qtn 107
Yes, since I encountered this question, I've decided to start this topic.
In q.107, all options with "distinguish from" have another serious flaw. Also in the answer explanation OG says that when we are contrasting two problems we use "distinguish between A and B", but it doesn't explain when we need to use "distinguish A from B" - everybody knows that this idiom also exists (so we can't say that this is wrong idiomatic expression in general - it is only wrong for this particular case).
The only thing that OG says is that "distinguish between X from Y" - is wrong idiom (but it is obvious).
The thing I want to know - if options with "distinguish from" aren't flawed by another mistakes - will the GMAT ask us to choose one idiom over the other?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 55 times

Re: Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

by iamcste » Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:04 pm
VodkaBoy wrote:
iamcste wrote: There is one qtn in OG based on this

OG 11 edition qtn 107
Yes, since I encountered this question, I've decided to start this topic.
In q.107, all options with "distinguish from" have another serious flaw. Also in the answer explanation OG says that when we are contrasting two problems we use "distinguish between A and B", but it doesn't explain when we need to use "distinguish A from B" - everybody knows that this idiom also exists (so we can't say that this is wrong idiomatic expression in general - it is only wrong for this particular case).
The only thing that OG says is that "distinguish between X from Y" - is wrong idiom (but it is obvious).
The thing I want to know - if options with "distinguish from" aren't flawed by another mistakes - will the GMAT ask us to choose one idiom over the other?

I had read somewhere that you may not encounter a situation wherin you have to select one of two correct idioms, given that there are no other errors
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:35 am

Re: Distinguish A FROM B vs. Distinguish BETWEEN A AND B

by VodkaBoy » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:02 pm
iamcste wrote: I had read somewhere that you may not encounter a situation wherin you have to select one of two correct idioms, given that there are no other errors
Lets hope so! :wink:
Thanks!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 67
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:06 pm
Thanked: 3 times

by tnaim » Thu Apr 22, 2010 11:05 am
VodkaBoy wrote:
iamcste wrote: There is one qtn in OG based on this

OG 11 edition qtn 107
Yes, since I encountered this question, I've decided to start this topic.
In q.107, all options with "distinguish from" have another serious flaw. Also in the answer explanation OG says that when we are contrasting two problems we use "distinguish between A and B", but it doesn't explain when we need to use "distinguish A from B" - everybody knows that this idiom also exists (so we can't say that this is wrong idiomatic expression in general - it is only wrong for this particular case).
The only thing that OG says is that "distinguish between X from Y" - is wrong idiom (but it is obvious).
The thing I want to know - if options with "distinguish from" aren't flawed by another mistakes - will the GMAT ask us to choose one idiom over the other?
Hi,
Yes I think you're right. Below is a copied definition of distinguish from Cambridge dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/diction ... istinguish):
Distinguish: to notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another
He's colour-blind and can't distinguish (the difference) between red and green easily.
I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing Spanish from Portuguese.
It's important to distinguish between business and pleasure.
It's not the beauty so much as the range of his voice that distinguishes him from other tenors.


Notice the absence of Between when from is used. I think that's the key.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 537
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:06 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times

by frank1 » Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:47 pm
tnaim wrote:
VodkaBoy wrote:
I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing Spanish from Portuguese.
.
well if it the case then is notion that
Distinguish A FROM B is used for different things,
both are languages here as explained in another one, red apples and green apples

bit confused...
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 509
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:08 pmFollowed by: 85 members
Location: Irvine, CA
Thanked: 199 times
GMAT Score:750

by tpr-becky » Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:56 pm
As far as I am aware either is proper for any situation with two things. The GMAT often uses this idiom and mixed up the prepositions. so both are correct and you shouldn't have to choose between them. the problem you are speaking of only contains one sentence with the correct idiom.
Becky
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1