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

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'It was different than I thought' is commonly used in informal speech, while 'It was different from what I thought' is more formal and precise. The choice between them depends on the level of formality you want to convey.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2895 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in informal speech.

"It was different than I thought."

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to express a comparison between the actual situation and one's previous expectations.

Examples:

The movie was different than I thought it would be.
The test was different than I expected.
The outcome was different than I had imagined.

Show examples from the web [+]

- He's different than I thought.
But it looks much different than I thought.
Well, sometimes when I get mad I find out it's about something different than what I thought.
- Go to a different thought.
I had a completely different thought.
I had a slightly different thought.
You'll find reality to be quite a bit different than you thought.
He's a little different from what I thought.
Now, a completely different thought.
I realized all the people are different and we all have different thoughts.
I thought Travis was different than the other guys.
Now, a completely different thought. I'm always imagining myself in different situations. I'm imagining myself as a machine.
Sometimes, it's just for a different one than you thought.
You're different than I thought you'd be.
She's completely different than I thought she was.
You're so different than I thought you were.
Having a real dog's a lot different than I thought it would be.
I meant, he's different than I thought he would be.
I got to tell you, this is going a lot different than I thought it would.
Dear Evelyn... it's different than I thought it would be here.

Alternatives:

it was different from what I thought.
it was not what I thought.
it was not as I had thought.
it was different from my expectations.
it was different from what I had in mind.

This phrase is correct and more formal than the first option.

"It was different from what I thought."

This phrase is more formal and precise, often used in written or formal contexts to express a comparison between the actual situation and one's previous expectations.

Examples:

The reality was different from what I thought.
The result was different from what I had anticipated.
The outcome was different from what I had in mind.

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 than I thought.
it was not what I thought.
it was not as I had thought.
it was different from my expectations.
it was different from what I had in mind.

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