Different From vs. Different Than
The expressions different from and different than have been used almost interchangeably for at least 300 years.
Different from is preferred to introduce a phrase; however, different than may also be used.
Example: New Orleans natives’ speech is different from that of New York natives’ speech.
Example: New Orleans natives’ speech is different than that of New York natives’ speech.
Different than is preferred to introduce a clause; however, different from may be used if more words are added.
Example: The boulevard led to a different street than the map showed.
Example: The boulevard led to a different street from the one the map showed.
Differently is used as an adverb. Use differently than with a clause following. You may use differently from if you add extra wording.
Example: He walked differently than he had hoped after getting the leg cast off.
Example: He walked differently from what he had hoped after getting the leg cast off.
Quiz
1. This dress is different from/than the one in the catalog.
2. How is this salad dressing different from/than last night’s dressing?
3. His moustache made him look different from/than his brothers.
4. Chopsticks are very different to hold from/than a fork and knife are.
5. He treated me differently from/than I would have expected.
6. He treated me differently from/than what I would have expected.
Answers
1. different from (preferred because it introduces a phrase)
2. different from (preferred because it introduces a phrase)
3. different from (preferred because it introduces a phrase)
4. different than (preferred because it introduces a clause)
5. differently than
6. differently from
December 16, 2008 at 10:43 am
Hi!
I’m not trying to be difficult, but…I hereby take exception to the notion floated here, that the expressions DIFFERENT FROM and DIFFERENT THAN have, seemingly, been on an equal grammatical footing for nearly three hundred years!??!
Wow, where have I been? [Rhetorical question]
This controversy between THAN and FROM (as prepositions) when used with the verb TO DIFFER, or the adjective DIFFERENT, seems to be one which has, is, and perhaps will, ultimately, result in accomodation of bad, or lazy grammar. It’s yet another instance of the Decline of Our Language, the Dumbing-down of primary schooling.
I hear (presumably), otherwise well-educated, well-spoken people, in public, making this mistake. It’s a pretty gross mistake. On one hand, when the uneducated speak in this way, it’s one thing. It’s forgivable, even though one would like to explain, and disabuse them of their error. On the other hand, public figures, whether it’s our President, or a respected news-anchor, should be responsible enough to check themselves and what they utter, before they go public. Or, have we come to expect and accept such colloquial expressions from our role models?
DIFFER takes the preposition FROM (exclusively), for the simple and logical reason that, as the verb TO DIFFER implies, it sets apart by EXCLUSION rather than BY DEGREE of COMPARISON. As in – This is different from that. When something differs, it implies another, FROM WHICH it is distinguished.
The fundamental question: How does something, be it a state of being, a quality, a quantity, an action,…DIFFER FROM another thing? Answer, COMPARITIVELY, by contrast. The contrast is either by degree, or by total exclusion; if one thing is excluded (outside the set which includes another) FROM, it is DIFFERENT. The preposition THAN is used with GREATER or LESS; the preposition FROM is used with DIFFERENT.
That’s how I see it.
The lazy speaker does not want to expend the effort to construct the requisite clause to follow, FROM [THAT WHICH, the other]… etc.
If we tried this little litmus test in most other languages, we’d probably get the same results. It’s beyond the scope of my immediate reply to attempt that. I think I would/could prove my premise, but I’ll let it go for now.
Different THAN is colloquial, which is, strictly speaking, not correct. It may be “Acceptable, accomodated,” but not right; it is lazy usage of grammar.
Your thoughts?
Thank you,
Geoff
June 19, 2010 at 5:59 am
I agree with and thank Geoff for that very clear description of the distinction. The use of “from” for different and “than” for comparative is a clear and easy way to understand the DIFFERENCE.
Thanks for your post!
June 25, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I’m afraid I think Geoff is very badly wrong about this. As you say, “different than” has been in use all over the English world for hundreds of years. Maybe (I just don’t know the history) it was once non-standard, but surely 300 years is enough to make it acceptable now! As the OED notes,
More important: the word “than” is definitely not a preposition. It is a conjunction. To call it a preposition is just incorrect (not a matter of taste, style, etc.)!