Why Different is Different

When we compare two similar objects in English, we use the conjunction than to indicate the second object in the comparison.

Thus: Cherries are sweeter than lemons. Chuck wagons are bigger than breadboxes.

This construction is familiar to speakers of English, whether native-born or taught as a second language and it is used frequently.

The adjective different comes from the verb to differ, and has nothing to do with the comparison construction. Objects that differ are not compared. They are contrasted. Contrasts require another form. The proper form uses the preposition from. This little word stresses the distance between the objects being contrasted, and even increases it.

Thus: Cherries differ from chuck wagons. Cherries are different from chuck wagons, therefore they can’t be compared.

 Of course, one may say that cherries are smaller than chuck wagons, redder than chuck wagons, etc. Differing objects may be compared, but they will use the construction comparison. When they are contrasted, however, they use the words different from.