a different approach than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a different approach than" is not considered correct in standard written English; it should be "a different approach from." You can use it when discussing alternative methods or strategies, but it is better to use the correct form.
Example: "We decided to take a different approach from what was suggested in the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Developing strengths requires a different approach than fixing weaknesses.

Harvard Business Review

The app takes a different approach than competitors.

The New York Times - Tech

MatchNet.com, meanwhile, takes a different approach than most others in the category.

The New York Times

"He just took a bit of a different approach than he might have in Japan".

The New York Times - Arts

The G.E. researchers have used a different approach than past efforts.

The New York Times - Tech

And that was a different approach than Paul's, even though we might have similar aims.

The New Yorker

"We have taken a different approach than the Democrats on the subcommittee.

The New York Times

A new study concludes that women need to take a different approach than men.

The New York Times

"We have a different approach than Steve's, but what we're seeing is good for 3-D across the board".

The New York Times - Tech

For civics educators, talking about the election may require a different approach than they've taken in previous years.

Harvard University

Meghan McCain took a different approach than the current president's after she was impersonated by Aidy Bryant on Saturday's episode.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms for "approach" like "strategy", "method", or "tactic" to add precision to your writing.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "than" instead of "from" after "different". Remember that "different" requires "from" to correctly express comparison. For example, it is correct to say "This study used a different methodology "from" previous research."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a different approach than" functions as a comparative, highlighting a distinction between two methods or strategies. Despite its frequent use, Ludwig AI suggests it's grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "a different approach from".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a different approach than" is widely used, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect; the standard form is "a different approach from". Despite its common occurrence in various contexts such as News & Media, Science and Academia, prioritizing grammatical correctness is advisable, particularly in formal writing. Alternatives such as "a different method than", "an alternative approach to", and "a distinct approach from" offer precise and grammatically sound options. Pay close attention to the preposition following "different" to ensure accuracy and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a different method than

Replaces "approach" with the more specific term "method", emphasizing the procedural aspect.

a different strategy than

Substitutes "approach" with "strategy", highlighting a planned series of actions.

a different tactic than

Replaces "approach" with "tactic", focusing on a specific action used to achieve a goal.

an alternative approach to

Uses "alternative" instead of "different" and changes the preposition to "to", correcting the grammar.

a distinct approach from

Uses "distinct" to emphasize the separateness of the approach, and corrects the grammar.

a contrasting approach to

Emphasizes the opposition between the two approaches, also corrects the grammar to 'to'.

a novel approach compared to

Highlights the newness of the approach, and corrects the grammar to 'to'.

a divergent approach from

Indicates a deviation in approach, while fixing the grammatical error.

a unique approach versus

Replaces "different" with "unique" to emphasize individuality and uses 'versus' as comparator.

an innovative approach as opposed to

Highlights the innovativeness of the approach and uses 'as opposed to' as comparator.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a different approach than"?

The grammatically correct phrasing is "a different approach "from"". While "than" is used for comparisons, "from" is the correct preposition to use with "different".

What can I say instead of "a different approach than"?

You can use alternatives like "a different method "than"", "an alternative approach "to"", or "a distinct approach "from"" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a different approach than" or "a different approach from"?

"A different approach "from"" is the grammatically correct choice. "Than" is often misused in this context.

When is it appropriate to use "a different approach than"?

While commonly used, "a different approach "than"" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Strive to use "a different approach from" instead.