different from/to/than. The combination preferred by traditionalists is different from, which keeps different in line with differ (How does this version differ (or How is this version different) from the previous one?). Different to has, however, been used for a very long time in British English, and m. Most modern authorities on British English accept different to it as an alternative, at least in anything but very formal writing. Different than is in widespread use in American English and is cautiously accepted in British English when followed by a clause: It's altogether different than I expected (strictly: different from what I expected). Different than but is not usually acceptable in either British or American English when followed by a noun