"it looks different from" vs "it looks different than"

Question

"it looks different from" vs "it looks different than"

Both 'it looks different than' and 'it looks different from' are commonly used in English, but 'it looks different from' is more widely accepted and preferred. 'Different from' is the standard preposition used to compare two things in terms of their dissimilarity.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

'It looks different from' is the standard and more formal way to compare two things in terms of their dissimilarity. It is preferred in academic and formal writing.

Examples:

The new model looks different from the previous one.
His perspective looks different from ours.
The outcome looks different from what we anticipated.
The texture looks different from what I remember.
The smell looks different from what I expected.

Alternatives:

it looks unlike
it looks distinct from
it looks separate from
it looks dissimilar to
it looks divergent from

'It looks different than' is often used in informal speech or writing, but it is not considered grammatically correct in formal contexts. It is better to use 'different from' for more formal or academic writing.

Examples:

The new design looks different than the old one.
Her approach to the problem looks different than mine.
The situation looks different than what we expected.
The color looks different than it did in the picture.
The taste of the dish looks different than I imagined.

Alternatives:

it looks different from

Answer 1

it looks different from

This phrase is widely accepted and considered more grammatically correct than 'different than'.

Answer 2

it looks different than

This phrase is commonly used in informal English, but it is considered less formal and less grammatically correct than 'different from'.

"it looks different from" vs "it looks different than"

it looks different from

it looks different than

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