https://www.italki.com/question/189044 "Hi Amanda, you can use the words "distinct" and "different" in both formal and informal situations actually. It's just that "distinct" is used less frequently. "Distinct" can be used to mean "different", but it is a "stronger" word and stresses that 2 things are not just different from each other, but that they have recognizable differences which make them unique and of different kinds. For instance... My house can be separated into 4 distinct spaces. vs. My house can be separated into 4 different spaces. When "different" is used, it just means that they are not the same. But when you use "distinct", it tells me that each of these 4 spaces have characteristics or features which make them very different and unique from each other." -Wilfred

http://grammarist.com/usage/varied-vs-various/ "Varied is an adjective and also the past tense of the verb vary. Use the word varied when describing things that are somewhat similar." "Various is an adjective. Use the word various when describing things that are distinctly different." This being said, I would use them interchangeably almost always.Also, I probably don't ever really use varied unless it is a singular noun "Varied selection of foods" (can't say various selection; it would be various selections). Hope this helps!

different and distinct. So different butterflies come from different species. However there is a distinct difference between say a blue one and a red one, which is colour.