Recently I was chatting with a friend about our favorite morning beverages, comparing the qualities of espresso, lattes, matcha, and tea. As the conversation unfolded, I noticed we freely alternated between “different from” and “different than” without a second thought. For instance, I said, “Matcha is different from regular green tea,” while my friend declared, “An Americano definitely tastes different than a regular coffee.” With our coffee and tea preferences settled, the grammar nerd in me was left wondering: Which of these phrases is grammatically correct?
It turns out that “different from” is the more formal and universally accepted phrase. If you aim to please style guides, it’s the safer choice. The statement “sympathy is different from empathy” flows naturally. However, “different from” isn’t the only acceptable variation; “different than” and “different to” have been around for centuries, each with its own set of nuances.
“Different to,” as in, “Her approach to the issue was different to mine,” is most often used in British English. It’s best reserved for informal situations, in the same way that its American counterpart, “different than,” should be treated.
According to Merriam-Webster, “different than” got a bad rap in the 19th century when grammarians adopted a little-known guideline stating that “than” should only be used following a comparative adjective showing a higher or lower quality or degree, such as “taller” or “worse.” Following that rule, the correct usage of “than” is “My brother is taller than my sister but shorter than my dad.” However, “different” can function as a comparative adjective, which is why it might feel more natural to use “than” instead of “from,” as seen in the example, “The second book was different than the first — it had a much darker tone.” Another situation in which “different than” might sound better than “from” is when introducing clauses, such as, “Different than the last time we met, he seemed much more relaxed.” You might notice that swapping the beginning with “different from” sounds a bit clunky.
So, where does this leave us? Although “different than” has been shunned by grammar purists for centuries, it’s perfectly acceptable to use, especially in informal language or when “different from” sounds unnatural, such as at the beginning of a clause. However, for those bound to formal writing conventions or style guides, “different from” remains the go-to choice.
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