Different from vs. Different than

Different from

/ˈdɪfərənt frəm/

Not the same as; having distinct characteristics from another thing

Examples:

The taste of this sauce is different from what I expected.Snowboarding is very different from skiing in many aspects.Her approach is different from her predecessor's strategies.

Synonyms:

dissimilardivergentdistinct

Antonyms:

alikeidenticallike

Different than

/ˈdɪf.ɚ.ənt ˌðæn/

A comparative phrase used to show a distinction between two things.

Examples:

His approach was different than any we had seen before.The texture of the fabric is different than cotton.Her voice sounded different than it usually does.

Synonyms:

unlike

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Ways to tell them apart:

• Different from suggests a departure from or contrast to something, often used when comparing two things.
• Different than is sometimes used, especially in American English, when the following phrase is a full clause.
• Remember that different from is more commonly accepted in formal writing.
• Think from when there's direct comparison: "A is different from B."
• Use than when it precedes a clause, but from remains the preferred choice.