different than vs different from

[NinaZara]

Hello,

This setup is different than the one at the office.
This setup is different from the one at the office.

Why is "different than" here wrong?

Thanks!

[Linghong]

I adapted this passage from the net. Please have a look!!

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/098.html

The phrases different from and different than are both common in British and American English. The British also use the construction different to. Since the 18th century, language critics have singled out different than as incorrect, though it is well attested in the works of reputable writers. If you want to follow traditional guidelines, use from when the comparison is between two persons or things: My book is different from (not than) yours. Different than is more acceptably used, particularly in American usage, where the object of comparison is expressed by a full clause: The campus is different than it was twenty years ago. You can use different from with a clause if the clause starts with a conjunction and so functions as a noun: The campus is different from how it was twenty years ago.
Sometimes people interpret a simple noun phrase following different than as elliptical for a clause, which allows for a subtle distinction in meaning between the two constructions. How different this seems from Paris suggests that the object of comparison is the city of Paris itself, whereas How different this seems than Paris suggests that the object of comparison is something like “the way things were in Paris” or “what happened in Paris.”

[NinaZara]

I have, now, but do you understand it? I have a feeling that it will narrow down to all are acceptable.

Thanks anyway Linghong.

[Yankee]

Hi Nina

The expression 'different than' is widely used in everyday AmE. I would expect 'different to' to be used much more often in BE.

However, 'different from' is usually considered formally (prescriptively) correct.
.

[NinaZara]

Thanks Amy. I have heard of every version spoken, but can I take it that students who use "different than" in their compositions will be penalized? Even in AmE?

It's just that I read about this in an article about "Grammar mistakes that will make you look stupid". I just wanted to check how true it was.

[Yankee]

.
Who was that article written by?
.

[NinaZara]

Apparently a person called Jodi Gilbert from The BNet Team. To be honest, (okay, I am going to confess a crime here) I downloaded it, and I cannot find it anywhere on the website. But if you want to try and look here is the url.

http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/

It was called "10 grammar mistakes that will make you look stupid".