Than/from?

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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Jane Gent
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Than/from?

Post by Jane Gent »

Hi, I am fairly new here so looking for some expertise in this field. I have a sentence which doesn’t sound right to me but may be ok in some English.
“That’s very different than rape and murder.”
To me, ‘than’ sounds wrong, and feels like it should be ‘from’, but I would appreciate some input.
Thanks very much
Jane.
Jane Gent
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Post by Blueberry Dragon »

Jane Gent wrote: 15 Jul 2024, 04:04 Hi, I am fairly new here so looking for some expertise in this field. I have a sentence which doesn’t sound right to me but may be ok in some English.
“That’s very different than rape and murder.”
To me, ‘than’ sounds wrong, and feels like it should be ‘from’, but I would appreciate some input.
Thanks very much
Jane.
Hi @Jane Gent ,
'Different from', 'different to', and 'different than' are all acceptable usages, though 'different from' is most commonly used. Some insist that 'than' can only be used when 'different' is used in a comparative form, such as 'wholly different' or 'more different'. Your sentence falls into this category as it uses 'very different'. So, it wouldn't be incorrect to use 'than', here. In short, this sentence would probably count as grammatically correct. I hope this helps.
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Jane Gent
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Favorite Book: Lessons in Chemistry
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Post by Jane Gent »

Thank you very much! I’m still learning😬
Jane Gent
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