It was different from what I thought. vs It was different than what I thought.

Both phrases are commonly used in English, but there is a slight difference in usage. 'It was different from what I thought.' is more commonly used and is considered more formal. 'It was different than what I thought.' is also correct, but this phrase is more informal and less preferred in formal writing.

Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: November 17, 2024 • 10640 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"It was different from what I thought."

This phrase is commonly used to express that something was not as expected or anticipated.

Examples:

The movie was different from what I thought it would be.
The reality was different from what I had imagined.
The outcome was different from what I had predicted.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 17, 2024

My identity shifted entirely and it was different from what I thought it would be. At times I felt like I wasn't cut out to be a parent. The books made me ...
Feb 9, 2016 ... ... it was different from what I thought, or what is working now; still, it should sync since the password is correct and it was syncing fine ...
Sep 28, 2015 ... But it was different from what I thought it would be. Giving it three stars. There was nothing I hated about it, but I still didn't fully ...
Sep 13, 2017 ... Honestly in almost every way it was different from what I thought I was signing up for when I put in my application. And while there were ...
May 21, 2009 ... I found out today and it was different from what I thought I remembered when I had that tire repaired. - spin a front wheel and the other ...
Feb 24, 2018 ... You can relax and enjoy the herbal tea they serve while your vargina is being steamed Actually It was different from what I thought. I thought ...
Nov 27, 2015 ... Senior year rolled around and our time had finally come, but it was different from what I thought it would be. Walking up those steps to ...
Aug 15, 2017 ... I don't know what you thought of, but I know that it was different from what I thought of. I know that you thought of lots of things and you ...
I wasn't sure what to expect and it was different from what I thought. I would say when we reached the bottom there was at least fifty people, because we ...
Jun 27, 2022 ... It was different from what I thought nursing could be, and it really intrigued me.” For Reyna, her day starts with making sure the vaccines ...

Alternatives:

It was different from what I expected.
It was not what I thought it would be.
It was not as I had imagined.
It was not what I had predicted.
It was not what I had in mind.

This phrase is correct but more informal and less preferred in formal writing.

"It was different than what I thought."

This phrase is also used to express that something was not as expected or anticipated, but it is more informal than using 'from'.

Examples:

The movie was different than I thought it would be.
The reality was different than I had imagined.
The outcome was different than I had predicted.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 17, 2024

Sep 11, 2020 ... ... it was different than what I thought it would be.) This is the first time I'm adding media files to notes, and they are not automatically ...
7 days ago ... However, reading the lyrics I realized it was different than what I thought he said. I honestly don't think he's saying “it's just to relate ...
Apr 14, 2022 ... It was different than what I thought I had wanted, yet completely perfect!” My dear friend and fashion designer, Teresa Cristaldi, performed ...
Mar 16, 2023 ... Surprise, surprise it was different than what I thought it was. Once I could see the current password, I was able to log in to my laptop and ...
Nov 9, 2021 ... Partly because it was different than what I thought it would be, and partly because I couldn't get the thread of the story; I wasn't sure where ...
Jan 16, 2014 ... ... it was different than what I thought it was going to be. 10 years ago. Cristina Josh wrote: "Vera wrote: "No offense to the author but i ...
Jul 12, 2024 ... And the way they described it was different than what I thought it was. Here's how I understand it: First-principles thinking is solving ...
Nov 14, 2013 ... It was different than what I thought I was getting into.#. Interviewer: Did you get the feeling... sorry come again...#. Veloso: Oh, no. I can ...
Aug 5, 2020 ... It was different than what I thought when I got to college after I'd experienced my first heartache, and then when I had to move away to ...
I had a hard time wrapping my head around the book because it was different than what I thought it would be like from watching the show, so I really couldn ...

Alternatives:

It was different from what I thought.
It was not what I thought it would be.
It was not as I had imagined.
It was not what I had predicted.
It was not what I had in mind.

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It was different from what I thought. vs It was different than what I thought.

"It was different from what I thought."

"It was different than what I thought."

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