Look for words that show contrast like 'but', 'however', to understand the change 'a world of difference' indicates. She was shy at first, but tutoring made a world of difference in her confidence.
Pro Tip 2/3
Emphasis Added
'A world of difference' is used to emphasize an important change or distinction between things. Working from home creates a world of difference in work-life balance.
Pro Tip 3/3
Not Literal
The phrase is figurative and doesn't mean an actual 'world' but symbolizes an extremely noticeable difference. Switching to LED lights has made a world of difference in our electricity bill.