| Author |
Message |
    
Newsteadmom
Citizen
Username: Newsteadmom
Post Number: 24
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:00 am: | 
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I was taught (in Maryland public schools) to say different FROM, not than or then. Whenever I read or hear "different than" it really jars me. Am I correct? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10023
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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The rules are different than they used to be. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3578
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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I am pretty sure that you (Newsteadmom) are correct.
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1986
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:12 am: |
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However, Dave, the rules now are different from the rules we used to follow.  |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10024
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:18 am: |
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Use "from" for a comparison of objects or people and "than" for when the comparison is a full clause. Therefore,
"However, Dave, the rules now are different than the rules we used to follow" is technically correct, although both make perfect sense.
Now we need a Brit on MOL to tell us about "different to." |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 1691
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 10:42 am: |
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I know that we always got our knuckles rapped if we "spoke incorrectly" in our English classes!!
I remember being told to say that "Jane and I went to lunch" and you NEVER said "Jane and Me" but it was "Jane came with me to the pictures" and you got bruised knuckles if you said "I"...
We were allowed to say that white corn is different from, or to yellow corn...
It's, its and its' had to be used in the right context.
We were also told that it was permissible to use the phrase " in relation to" ....
I know we are going WAAAAY back in my schooling, there were no computers or calculators used and if your spelling was incorrect, it was totally down to you, and after writing out one word 100 times, you pretty much made sure you didn't get it wrong again..
Please forgive any spelling or grammatical erros in this post, rushing to get out to the England match..
Respectfully yours,
SPO
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7691
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 11:51 am: |
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There are regional variations where oral English is concerned. What is in general use in one part of the country may sound foreign in another. When expressing one's self verbally, the best bet is to say whatever sounds best to your ears.
Written English tends to be a lot more formal. |
SO Ref
Citizen
Username: So_refugee
Post Number: 1939
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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Like in the deep South, we say something like -
"She's got a goiter bigger'n a watermelon." |
bella
Citizen
Username: Bella
Post Number: 601
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 12:55 pm: |
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oh, what about when some one says "like I said" NO NO NO, it should be "as I said"
and "where are you at?" no, it is "where are you?"
and my biggest pet peeve about my boss, he constantly says notate rather than note. notate is incorrect and pretentious.
argh. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3908
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
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Clem, look at that pair over thar, theys as big as watermelons and twice as juicy. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3580
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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There is an easy way to sort out whether to use "I" or "me" in those kinds of sentences SOP mentions. Just take out the other person in the sentence and see which way sounds right. For example, you say "I went to lunch" (not "Me went ..."), so you would say "Jane and I went ..." |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12002
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 2:45 pm: |
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Actually it is "where you at?" 
I know different from is correct, but like 98% of Americans I use different than a lot. I will strive to do better in the future.
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