customized TO or FOR

Question

Hi,Which preposition shall I use in:"The tool can be customized TO/FOR nearly any user scenario"?Perhaps both TO and FOR can be used after "to customize" but NOT ALWAYS interchangeably?mus-te

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

For. eg.

The builder customizes his homes for (for the use of, for the benefit of) the handicapped.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

AlpheccaStarsFor. eg.

Ok.
Frankly I still don't understand whether the following example sentences (from COCA) are the mainstream ... or "substandard" English?

....photos are later retouched, given a " peaches and cream " look, and customizedto the client's specification. " Some of the ladies are very nervous.

These findings could be presented to all users, or they could be customizedto the particular queried patient's age, race, neighborhood, or prior medical

Every time Google presents me with search terms customizedto what I'm typing, it reminds me that the company monitors my every

an advanced degree or a statewide or nationwide leadership development program because it can be customizedto the college's characteristics, culture, goals, and specific needs (Stone

Although the content of a new GYO program should be customizedto the college's needs, culture, and goals, research has identified some

traditional Williamsburg design (9 1/2' sq., above), will be customizedto your specifications, fully built, and shipped to your home. $4,450 as

After that, users could either choose a " random play " mix, more-or-less customizedto their preferences, or pay an additional surcharge for " expert choice. "

AlpheccaStars · Answer

We customize for (for the use of, for the benefit of) a person or group.
We customize to (meet, match, satisfy) a specification or criterion.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

AlpheccaStarsWe customize for (for the use of, for the benefit of) a person or group.We customize to (meet, match, satisfy) a specification or criterion.

Sorry for being so "dogged" :-) If we could ... finalize some points?

I am not sure but... could we (in a way) parallel the pair
"to customize for (some use)" vs "to customize to sth"
to the pair
"be different from" vs "be different to"?

I guess none of the forum's gurus would opt for "be different to" ... however this language is common enough in NAmerica?

MUSCOVITE · Answer

MUSCOVITE"be different from" vs "be different to"?I guess none of the forum's gurus would opt for "be different to" ... however this language is common enough in NAmerica?

Sorry, I meant the pair "be different from" vs "be different THAN" actually :-)

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITEI guess none of the forum's gurus would opt for "be different to"

"different to" is chiefly British, and it sounds strange to an American. "different from" is advised in America, though "different than" is also heard. Personally, I use "different from".

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you CalifJim!

CalifJimPersonally, I use "different from".

Can you imagine a career English teacher saying "be different THAN", not "be different FROM"? :-)
Have you ever heard American (or British) literati, glitterati, political establishment etc. using "be different THAN"?
It is not just a matter of taste/option, rather it is a matter of being well educated or not?

mus-te

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousCan you imagine a career English teacher saying "be different THAN", not "be different FROM"? :-)

Yes, absolutely. This was drilled into English students, but it has no basis in reality.

AnonymousIt is not just a matter of taste/option, rather it is a matter of being well educated or not?

Perhaps when Queen Victoria was living it was a class distinction, but no longer.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousCan you imagine a career English teacher saying "be different THAN", not "be different FROM"?

I'm not the one to ask because I have a very good imagination.

AnonymousHave you ever heard American (or British) literati, glitterati, political establishment etc. using "be different THAN"?

Yes. It's actually more common than you might think.

AnonymousIt is not just a matter of taste/option, rather it is a matter of being well educated or not?

I'm not so sure about that. Even well-educated people are exposed to others who use variants of one phrase or another, and pick up the habit of saying things as they have heard them.

CJ

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