Discern and distinguish are close in meaning, but they are not used in the same way.
Discern means to perceive, detect, or recognize something, often when it is faint, subtle, or not obvious. You are noticing that something is there or understanding it clearly. For example: She discerned doubt in his voice. The focus is on recognizing a detail or quality.
Distinguish means to tell one thing from another by noticing differences. The focus is on comparison. For example: The twins are hard to distinguish at first. Here, the idea is not just noticing them, but identifying which is which.
A simple way to remember it is this:
- Discern: notice or recognize something
- Distinguish: tell things apart
You might discern a pattern in data, but distinguish one pattern from another. If you are talking about subtle perception, choose discern. If you are talking about contrast or separation, choose distinguish.