Different to/from/than

Question

Hello All,
I know that the US uses "different than" whereas the English say "different to/from".

But, in a sentence like the following,

"A treadmill moves you in a different way than regular running."

How would a native UK English speaking person construct the above sentence without using "than" there?

Using "from/to" does not sound so natural in that sentence.

Kindly help.

Thanks,
Prasanna

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

"(X) Different to' is not in reputable use anywhere. I don't how a BrE speaker would say 'in a different way than' if s/he didn't say 'in a differerent way from'. From a net grammar:

"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."

Cool Breeze · Answer

Mister Micawber"(X) Different to' is not in reputable use anywhere.

A British lecturer once corrected my "mistake" in this sentence: His head was tilted in a different direction from his hat. She considered different to the only correct option in the sentence.

This is what the Random House Unabridged Dictionary says about different:

—Usage. Although it is frequently claimed that DIFFERENT should be followed only by FROM, not by THAN, in actual usage both words occur and have for at least 300 years. FROM is more common today in introducing a phrase, but THAN is also used: New York speech is different from (or than) that of Chicago. THAN is used to introduce a clause: The stream followed a different course than the map showed. In sentences of this type, FROM is sometimes used instead of THAN; when it is, more words are necessary: a different course from the one the map showed. Regardless of the sentence construction, both FROM and THAN are standard after DIFFERENT in all varieties of spoken and written American English. In British English TO frequently follows DIFFERENT: The early illustrations are very different to the later ones. The use of DIFFERENT in the sense “unusual” is well established in all but the most formal American English: The décor in the new restaurant is really different.

CB

Mister Micawber · Answer

I stand corrected, CB.  Gawd, the British use some awful English sometimes, don't they?

Cool Breeze · Answer

Mister MicawberI stand corrected, CB. Gawd, the British use some awful English sometimes, don't they?

Hmm...

Even though I don't think I have a reputation for diplomacy, it might be wise of me not to say anything about this as there actually are a few British English Forums members who just may read this thread.

CB

Mister Micawber · Answer

And some of them have been my friends up till now.

Sarnga1157 · Answer

Thanks for the replies.

So what is the final word on this?

So, do the British use "than" also? I thought "than" was American.

And, would the British use only "than" in my example sentence.

Thanks,
Prasanna

McNabb · Answer

I'm no expert in the variations between American and British English, but I do have a hypothesis about this one.

I'd say that using "than" is a must here, regardless of dialect.
As a rule, any time "than" is used, there is an implied parallel structure that is usually omitted:

"he looks better than you (look)"
"he runs faster than you (run)"

"A treadmill moves you in a different way than regular running (moves you)"

If the sentence has an implied parallel structure, then "than" must be used.
The reason why "from" doesn't work in the above sentence can be understood by inserting it into the sentence with the implied parallel structure present:

"A treadmill moves you in a different way from regular running moves you."

The only way that "different from" can make sense is if "from" directly follows "different":

"A treadmill moves you in a way different from regular running"

In this case the underlined portion functions as an adjectival phrase that describes "way." Furthermore the expanded version of this sentence would read as follows:

"A treadmill moves you in a way that is different from regular running"

"That" = relative pronoun that refers to "way," so ...

"Running on a treadmill is different from regular running" -- This works
"Running on a treadmill is different than regular running (is)" --This doesn't work

However ...

"Shrimp taste different from crabs" -- This works
"Shrimp taste different than crabs (taste)" --This works

"Shrimp are different from crabs" --This works
"Shrimp are different than crabs (are)" --This doesn't work

Conclusions

In cases where a being-verb is implied, use "from"
In cases where a parallel structure is necessarily implied, use "than."
In cases where "different" signals an adjectival phrase, use "from."
In cases where linking verbs (other than being verbs) are used, you can pick.

The last circumstance is the only one in which I think there should be any confusion.

McNabb · Answer

replace "linking verbs" with "sense-related verbs"

-look, appears, etc
-taste
-smell
-feel
-sound
-seems
-etc

McNabb · Answer

I am equally befuddled by the use of "different to," but I do believe there was an error.

"His head was tilted in a different direction from his hat"

The above sentence is illogical because it implies that "hat" is different from "direction." Imagine the sentence with a parallel structure.

"His head was tilted in a different direction from his hat (was tilted)" -- doesn't work
"His head was tilted in a direction different from the direction of his hat" -- works

Why?

"His head was tilted in a direction (that was) different from the direction of his hat"
-being verb + different = from
"The direction his head was tilted was different from the direction his hat was tilted"

These would also work ...

"His head was tilted in a different direction than his hat (was tilted)."
"His head was tilted differently than his hat (was tilted).

Sarnga1157 · Answer

Thanks for the replies.

I know that "from" or "to" won't work in this sentence :

"A treadmill moves you in a different way than regular running (moves you)"

But what I meant to ask was, do the British use these kinds of formations at all?

Or they'd rather say, "A treadmill moves you in a way that is different than regular running".

Will the British form sentences that involve "than" like in the above?

Thanks,
Prasanna

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