0
Glee Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Different than?

0 I came upon this sentence in an English magazine: 02br
02br
00"We might want DIFFERENT things for ourselves THAN our parents do." 02br
02br
00I'm pretty sure this is not correct. Shouldn't we always use "FROM" after "different?" However, using "from" to replace "than" in this sentence dosen't seem right. How should I rephrase it? 02br
02br
00My gratitude in advance. 0-
  

Top answer

0 Here is my humble opinion. ' Good writers suggest using the former in formal writing. In reality, however, 'different than' is often used.

— Komountain

  • 0 Here is my humble opinion.
  • ' Good writers suggest using the former in formal writing.
  • In reality, however, 'different than' is often used.
  • I personally label it as substandard.
  • ' 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

24 Answers
0
0 Here is my humble opinion. 02br
02br
00In standard English 'different from' is preferred to 'different than.' Good writers suggest using the former in formal writing. In reality, however, 'different than' is often used. I personally label it as substandard. 02br
02br
00In your example sentence, as you stated, 'from' is not a good candidate as a substitut
0
0
0 "different than" is not correct, since "than" is used with comparatives. 02br
00I have a feeling the sentence from the magazine isn't either, I mean in the construction. 02br
00It could be as follows: 02br
00The things we want for ourselves may be different from those our parents want. 0-
0
0
0 I was taught "different from" is BrE and "different than" in AmE. 02br
00Is that the case? 0-
0
0
0 The phrases different from and different than are both common in British and American English. The British also use the construction different to. Since the 18th century, language critics have singled out different than as incorrect, though it is well attested in the works of reputable writers. If you want to follow traditional guidelines, use from when the comparison is between two persons or
0
0
0 Hello Extravaganza 02br
02br
00When I was a college student, I read a bibliography of Kemal Pasha "Le Loup Gris" in French (I'm sorry I forgot the author's name). 02br
02br
00paco 02br
02br
00[PS] Oops! I posted this in a wrong thread! 0-
0
0
0 Or shall I say "different than" is non-standard? It is used, of course, but the standard form is "different from" 0-
0
0
0 Is 'different than' non-standard in AmE? Or is it now accepted? 02br
02br
00You hear it quite often in BrE. 'Comparison' is the basis of 'difference', so perhaps it's more reasonable than it seems. 02br
02br
00MrP 0-
0
0
0 Hello 02br
02br
00I was taught in school we should not use "different than". But now I am getting inclined to believe "different than" is not so bad. I feel "different than" is more versatile in use than "different from" because the latter should be followed by a noun phrase. 02br
02br
00OED says about this issue in the entries of "different" and "than
0
0
I'm posting my note of gratitude.
Thank you all. I've learned so much.
0
0
I'm not sure you've learned what you really needed to know!

The nitty gritty of the OPs original question is that "from" is not happily followed by "our parents do".

I suspect this is because "from" must be followed by a noun or noun-phrase, and 'our parents do' does not qualify. ('than' can be followed by a verb)
0

Related Questions