Is "different than" a correct grammatical structure?

Question

Shouldn't it be "different from"? After all, the correct usage with the verb (rather than the adjective) is "differs from", not "differs than". So by extension, shouldn't the following be the case?

CORRECT: English differs from Spanish in many respects.
INCORRECT: English differs than Spanish in many respects.

CORRECT: English is different from Spanish in many respects.
INCORRECT: English is different than Spanish in many respects.


I hear "different than" all the time. Why is this so commonplace? Aren't people just incorrectly applying the rules regarding comparisons (e.g. He is taller than John) to the adjective "different"? Has this error become so common that it is actually an acceptable grammatical structure now? Even journalists and writers are guilty of this particular error. So what's the official take on this in schools these days?

Answer 1

Your analysis is excellent.

The use of 'than' is incorrect, but it has become practical with everyday use - so over time it will become accepted.

Just like COLOUR --> COLOR (thanks to Americans)

Thats how we lost 'thou' and 'shalt' and so on over the years.

Answer 2

Actually "different than" has been in use in English for hundreds of years, probably since before the rule was invented. So the people who are using it now are simply preserving a long-standing grammatical structure. The "different from" rule was invented by grammarians, probably for the reason you mentioned above. But I'm not sure that I'd call "different than" an "error", except in the case that it doesn't meet the expectations of the audience (an editor, for example).

As for what's being taught in schools, it's anybody's guess.

Answer 3

the correct one is 'different from'. a lot of people use different than. its really embarrassing. especially in English speaking countries. how can people who learn English as a second language knows the right ways of using the language if the native speakers themselves (even journalists!for shame!what were the copy editors doing when the article was passing through their desks?) are abusing it in the most blatantly stupid way.
you should go ahead and use the correct preposition (i.e. different from), remember now:
sometimes the word 'majority' means that all the idiots are on the same side.

Answer 4

Yeah, I learned to use "different from" at school. But languages are alive and changing at all times. In our country, Japan, some strict people are always criticizing misusing of words and phrases. nevertheless, many words have been accepted after all. I think every country is under the same situation. In addition to your question, I also have some words different from those I learned at school.

if I were a bird, -> if I was a bird,
a girl whom I'm looking at -> a girl who I'm looking at

Answer 5

It depends on what the speech pattern was where you were raised.

Different than sounds very wrong to me. I've never noticed it being said. It is common?

Answer 6

I think different than is correct. But I'm not an expert sorry.