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  3. Commonly Confused Words
  4. “Different from” vs. “Different than”
Commonly Confused Words

“Different from” vs. “Different than”

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In English, we often use the word different to talk about contrast or distinction. But should we say different from or different than? The answer depends on grammar and style — but in most cases, different from is the best choice.

Different from

Different from is the standard and most widely accepted form in both British and American English. It’s grammatically parallel to phrases like separate from or independent from.

  • My approach is different from yours.
  • This book is different from the one I read last year.

Different than

Different than is sometimes used in American English, especially when it’s followed by a full clause (a subject and a verb). In this case, than acts as a conjunction, not a preposition.

  • Life is different than it was ten years ago. ✅
  • The results were different than we expected. ✅

But this structure is less common and more controversial in formal writing. When in doubt, stick with different from.

💡 Astuce

  • Use different from when followed by a noun.
  • Use different than only if it’s followed by a clause (subject + verb).
  • Think: "separate from," "distinct from" → not "separate than"!

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Her teaching style is completely ___ what we’re used to.

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