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Satkomuni Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"Different from B, A is ... ."
Hi,
I correct non-native English for a living, and I run into certain sentence patterns repeatedly. The focus here is, "Different from B, A [predicate]."
For instance, "Different from other companies in the aviation sector, Albistoria has very strong R&D." The meaning the authors wish to express in this type of sentence is "Albistoria's strength in R&D differentiates
it from other companies in the aviation sector."
Now, every time I see this structure, I get goose pimples and change it to "Unlike other companies....," which I know is correct. But recently I've begun to doubt whether this usage of "Different from..." as an adjectival phrase is in fact wrong, and if so, why?
Perhaps it's just a matter of what I've heard most; what do you have to say?
I correct non-native English for a living, and I run into certain sentence patterns repeatedly. The focus here is, "Different from B, A [predicate]."
For instance, "Different from other companies in the aviation sector, Albistoria has very strong R&D." The meaning the authors wish to express in this type of sentence is "Albistoria's strength in R&D differentiates
it from other companies in the aviation sector."
Now, every time I see this structure, I get goose pimples and change it to "Unlike other companies....," which I know is correct. But recently I've begun to doubt whether this usage of "Different from..." as an adjectival phrase is in fact wrong, and if so, why?
Perhaps it's just a matter of what I've heard most; what do you have to say?
Top answer
I entirely agree with you that "unlike" is normal English. ", but this too is not usual. I'd insist on "unlike".
- I entirely agree with you that "unlike" is normal English.
- ", but this too is not usual.
- I'd insist on "unlike".
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2 Answers
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I entirely agree with you that "unlike" is normal English. To have any logic, we would have to say "differently from...", but this too is not usual. I'd insist on "unlike".
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I don't like this usage either, and I like your translation to "Unlike other companies....,"
However, you may want to see examples of "different from" at The New York Times and see if they show up your case:
http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22Dif
However, you may want to see examples of "different from" at The New York Times and see if they show up your case:
http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22Dif
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