Different from, different to or different than?

from English Grammar Today




The adjective different means ‘not the same’. When we compare two or more items, it is usually followed by from. We also use different to, especially in speaking:

Adam is so different from/to his brother.

This house is very different from/to your last one.

In American English, it is also common to say different than:

This tea tastes very different than the one I usually drink. (or … very different from/to the one I usually drink)

In British English, people often say different than before a clause, but many speakers consider this to be incorrect:

His accent is different now than before he went to Australia. (or … different now from before he went to Australia.)