Different From vs Different Than
Does a possum differ than a cow
Does that make sense to you?
Does an oboe differ than a drum?
Does that at all ring true?
No, a possum differs from a cow,
And an oboe from a drum,
So mustn't logic then conclude
They end up different from?
But why so often do we hear
That something's different than,
That Abigail's different than
Her friends Michelle and Stan?
Does Abigail differ than
Her friends? Why, no indeed!
She's differs from Michelle and Stan.
On that we're all agreed.
So please, no more this different than,
This phrase that comes from naught,
This phrase that doesn't mean at all
What people think it ought.
A possum's different from a cow
And from a kangaroo.
An oboe's different from a drum
And from my toy kazoo.
And Abigail's different from
Her friends Michelle and Stan,
So please, dear friend, do think again
Ere saying different than.
(Note: I'm aware that the British say "different to," but, as we know, the Brits have been in decline for some years now.)
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