Different From vs. Different To vs. Different Than
Different From vs. Different To vs. Different Than summarizes Oxford’s documented usage note: different from is the most common in both major varieties, different to is also used especially in British English, and different than is especially North American and can be convenient before a clause.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Different from is the most common structure in both British and North American English; different to is also used especially in British English, while different than is especially associated with North American English and is useful before clauses.
Key details
Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyconstruction choice
Termsdifferent from, different to, different than
Further guidance
Core difference
Oxford documents all three forms and explicitly notes their regional and structural tendencies rather than declaring two of them universally wrong.
Style Boundary
Match the form to audience and sentence structure; house style may be narrower than general dictionary usage.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Agree With vs. Agree On separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Angry With vs. Angry About separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Appropriate For vs. Appropriate To separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Available To vs. Available For separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Be Bound To Do vs. Bound For Somewhere separates two distinct Oxford-documented senses. Bound to do/be expresses certainty or likelihood, while bound for + destination describes travel toward a place. The guide keeps those senses separate from legal or duty-bound uses.
Be Elated To Do vs. Elated By Something compares two directly documented complement patterns for “elated.” Oxford evidence supports an infinitival use as well as elated at/by + noun phrase, so the guide explains the construction choice without generalizing from synonyms.
