Comments on: Different From vs. Different Than

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:33:48 +0000

Thank you for the information. That is consistent with the preferred usage in our rules.

By: Nancie

Nancie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:22:06 +0000

Say, FYI, if you are taking standardized tests like the GMAT or SAT, “different from” is always used when comapring two nouns and “different than” is used when comparing a noun with a clause.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:00:45 +0000

I agree with Geoff as well, but here’s the peace, um, to which I’ve come. In the course of work, I review a lot of documents. Some of these really matter a lot, others much less so. If the document is super important (e.g., a Supreme Court brief), I will correct “than” to “from” even if it’s the only change I make. Otherwise I make the change only if I’m making other changes. I see this error ALL the time, and from VERY well-educated people. It’s a bit like the use of “impact” as a verb. I’ve pretty much given up correcting others for “errors” such as these. The cost of pedantry can actually be quite high in the real world. I will try to be correct in what I say and write, but for the most part I’ve given up trying to hold back the tide when it comes to others.
Also, fwiw, my Webster’s says “than” is both a conjunction and a preposition, the latter when used in the sense of “in comparison with.”

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:42:49 +0000

I totally agree with Geoff Lukens.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:18:15 +0000

I “prefer” my answers which are consistent with the guidance provided in the lesson.

By: Ed Crane

Ed Crane — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:10:50 +0000

I realize this throws a wrench into the answers to the quiz…but based on my theory, I would answer as follows (with my reasoning in brackets)

1. This dress is different from the one in the catalog [one "differs from" the other]
2. How is this salad dressing different than last night’s dressing [was]? [omitted verb].
3. His moustache made him look different than his brothers [look]. [omitted verb].
4. Chopsticks are very different to hold than a fork and knife are. [verb is not omitted!]
5. He treated me differently than I would have expected [to be treated][omitted verb].
6. He treated me differently than what I would have expected [same reason as preceding. I think this should read "he treated me differently than how I expected.]

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:00:05 +0000

As mentioned at the beginning of the lesson, the expressions different from and different than have been used almost interchangeably for at least 300 years. That is why I am approaching this lesson from the angle of what is preferred rather than a strict correct vs incorrect argument.

By: Ed Crane

Ed Crane — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:43:03 +0000

I think this may be less complicated than we think. It depends on what you consider to be a well-written sentence and what exactly it is you’re trying to say.

“Than” in the following sentence works, as a verb is implied and omitted [in brackets].

“People in New Orleans speak differently than people in New York [speak].”
– If you don’t omit the verb and use “from”, it would be incorrect and come across as such to the reader or listener.
– If you omit the verb, using “from” in this sentence may pass various litmus tests but technically woud be incorrect.

“From” works in the sense that something “differs from” something else e.g. “I differ from my colleagues on this point.”

“A New Orleans accent (differs from / is different from) a New York accent”

– “Differs than” is (and sounds) incorrect.
– “…is different than” is also incorrect, but would probably be acceptable to most readers / listeners.

I think the first sentence, using “than”, is more concise, and clearer.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:32:37 +0000

Thanks for pointing this out. I’m going to make this change to the blog.

By: Alana

Alana — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:27:04 +0000

Thanks for the post and comments — I have better understanding now of the reasoning behind the usage of “different from/than.” I want to point out one thing (rather off-topic) from the original post, though.

Your first example is written as, “New Orleans natives’ speech is different from that of New York natives’ speech.”

I believe the words “that of” are used incorrectly here. “That of” should be used INSTEAD of the repetition of “speech” (and the possessive apostrophe preceding the noun). It could be worded as:

“New Orleans natives’ speech is different from New York natives’ speech.”
“New Orleans natives’ speech is different from that of New York natives.”