Apples differ from oranges. Apples are different from oranges.
I can't think of an example where "than" would be used instead.
Can we maybe vote on the whole murdering people issue?
Wash ,'Serenity'
Natter 59: Dominate Your Face!
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Jessica - Jun 05, 2008 5:27:54 am PDT #1195 of 10003
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
tommyrot - Jun 05, 2008 5:31:02 am PDT #1196 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Abstract nouns?
"Hatred is different than spite."
"Hatred is different from spite."
I think "than" works a little better. But the more I read the two sentences, the less sure I am....
brenda m - Jun 05, 2008 5:33:08 am PDT #1197 of 10003
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
Apples differ from oranges. Apples are different from oranges.
Apples are sweeter than oranges. Apples look different than oranges. Nope, don't think the second one works.
Dana - Jun 05, 2008 5:33:49 am PDT #1198 of 10003
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
"than" is more of a comparison word, isn't it?
Jessica - Jun 05, 2008 5:33:54 am PDT #1199 of 10003
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
msbelle - Jun 05, 2008 5:37:02 am PDT #1200 of 10003
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
I did not learn to say whole sentences when I went to Ethiopia. I learned to say "toilet", "hungry", "please", "thank you", "wait", and "it's ok". I would say the first three as statements and as questions.
Ginger - Jun 05, 2008 5:39:05 am PDT #1201 of 10003
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
My handy copy of Fowler's says:
The commonly expressed view that different should only be followed by from and never by to or than is not supportable in the face of past and present evidence or of logic, though the distribution of the constructions is not straightforward
The OED lists examples of each of the three constructions: different from, 1590; different to, 1526; different than, 1644. In the 20th century, a marked preference for "different from" his been shown in British English; in the same period, "different than" has flourished in American English, but so too has "different from."
Emily - Jun 05, 2008 5:40:08 am PDT #1202 of 10003
"In the equation E = mc⬧, c⬧ is a pretty big honking number." - Scola
When are you going? And couldn't you cross that border a bit and come visit here, too?
I leave for Cairo a week from yesterday. Eek! And, alas, I don't think a border crossing is in the cards. I'm going with an art teacher and her husband to visit my father, and I think we have many and assorted plans. All I can remember is the pyramids and the Nile, but there you are.
Today, since it's reached 93 here, I'm trying out the first of my trip clothes -- gauze pants. So far so good -- cool and modest! Of course, I'm also wearing a sleeveless shirt, which I guess I won't be doing there. Haven't quite figured out what I WILL wear there... Suggestions?
It is too bad. For a while, I was wondering if we could set up a meeting, but there seems to be that entire peninsula in the way.
Why is Israel a big blank on Google Maps?
Tom Scola - Jun 05, 2008 5:42:50 am PDT #1203 of 10003
Mr. Scola’s wardrobe by Botany 500
Why is Israel a big blank on Google Maps?
Israel believes that Google Maps would be a boon to terrorists.
Emily - Jun 05, 2008 5:43:12 am PDT #1204 of 10003
"In the equation E = mc⬧, c⬧ is a pretty big honking number." - Scola
I did not learn to say whole sentences when I went to Ethiopia. I learned to say "toilet", "hungry", "please", "thank you", "wait", and "it's ok". I would say the first three as statements and as questions.
Makes sense to me, but Pimmsleur wants me to learn in sentences, so that's what I'm doing. Haven't learned to read yet, although I can occasionally write!