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 is more commonly used in British English.
• Different than often appears in American English, though different from is also accepted.
• Different from is followed by a noun or pronoun, making it easier to remember as from is for nouns.
• Different than can sometimes be useful when followed by a clause because it can be more concise.
• Think of different from as a standard form and different than as an alternative form.