far too different

USAGE SUMMARY

"far too different" is correct and is commonly used in written English to describe something that is very dissimilar to something else.
Example: The two styles of dress were far too different for me to decide which one suited me best.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It says that banking and insurance are far too different to co-exist within the same company.

The Economist

But as critics pointed out, those populations may be far too different from most of modern society to make useful comparisons.

The Washington Post

There is also the added prejudice that the ambience of the clubs they frequent is far too different from that of Badminton or Burghley to be an acceptable source of pleasure.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the two, while not exactly friends offset – their recreational lives were far too different for that – had a profound respect for one another, and interviews of the two of them together, such as one they gave Roger Ebert in 1976, show how much they loved to make one another laugh: '"What are you doing next?" Wilder asked [Pryor].

The Guardian - Film

Indeed, the rules for storytelling, interaction and engagement are far too different now for us to nitpick our way through other people's writing.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The needs of children are far too different--from classroom to classroom, from school to school, from area to area.

Los Angeles Times

POLITICO: Institutionally speaking, the fevered mind of POLITICO thinks far too many different things at far too many different times to truly make a big deal of any of their "predictions".

Huffington Post

Data are produced, and used in far too many different ways to treat informatively as instance of any single method.

SEP

My roommate, who had seen me in far too many different states of fuckupedness, was getting ready to start work for the day.

Vice

However, if standards are too far ahead or too different in character from those that are likely to apply to foreign competitors, industry may innovate in the wrong directions.

Harvard Business Review

We as a nation have become far too intolerant of different points of view".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing items, follow "far too different" with 'from' or 'than' to clearly specify the point of reference: "This approach is far too different from our standard procedure."

Common error

Avoid using "far too different" when a simple 'different' suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound exaggerated or unnatural. Reserve it for situations where the difference is truly substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too different" functions as an intensifier followed by a descriptive adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun by emphasizing the extent of the difference. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase indicates a notable degree of dissimilarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far too different" is used to emphasize a significant degree of dissimilarity between two or more things. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves to highlight substantial divergence. It commonly appears in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and business writing, to underscore notable distinctions. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context warrants such emphasis, avoiding overuse in situations where simpler language would suffice. In summary, "far too different" is a powerful tool for expressing substantial distinctions but should be wielded judiciously for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vastly dissimilar

Emphasizes a significant degree of difference.

extremely divergent

Highlights a strong deviation or separation.

completely unalike

Stresses a total lack of resemblance.

worlds apart

Indicates a very wide gap or difference.

entirely incompatible

Focuses on the inability to coexist or work together.

poles apart

Suggests opposing or contrasting positions.

radically distinct

Highlights a fundamental and noticeable difference.

widely disparate

Emphasizes a considerable gap or inequality.

distinctly contrasting

Focuses on clearly observable differences.

irreconcilably different

Highlights differences that cannot be resolved or harmonized.

FAQs

How can I use "far too different" in a sentence?

Use "far too different" to emphasize that two or more things are significantly dissimilar. For example, "Their opinions on the matter were "far too different" to reach a consensus".

What does "far too different" imply about the items being compared?

It implies that the items are not just different, but that their differences are substantial and potentially incompatible. The phrase highlights a significant divergence that makes comparison or combination difficult.

Are there situations where using "far too different" might be inappropriate?

Yes, using "far too different" might be excessive when describing minor variations. In such cases, simpler alternatives like "slightly different" or "somewhat different" would be more suitable.

What are some other phrases I could use instead of "far too different"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "vastly dissimilar", "extremely divergent", or "completely unalike" to convey a similar meaning with different emphasis.