# Testing Alt-numeric combinations.. don't mind me **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 26, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648 "2003-05-26T22:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/21 "2003-06-08T20:44:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flamsterette\_X \* > \*\*(“different to” = “different than” … not exactly bad grammar… just an Australianism that I temporarily picked up from **Spoz** :D) > > F\_X \*\* Accroding to Uncle Cecil, in [Is “different than” bad grammar?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010316.html): > [@](#): > > So there’s our rule. When different is followed by a prepositional phrase, the preposition should be from. When it’s followed by a dependent clause introduced by a conjunction (even if much of the clause is elliptical), the conjunction should be than. ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/22 "2003-06-10T00:37:49Z")
Woohoo… I’ve been proved wrong by a Cecil column. Now is my cue to exit from this thread in utter disgrace, and reject all slang usage unless it’s directly endorsed by Cecil Adams. The above was not seriously meant, by the way. I don’t think I’ll do THAT. F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/23 "2003-06-15T15:07:11Z")
From the link given above: > [@](#): > > A few malcontents will have none of this, claiming that in the UK it’s considered perfectly proper to use different than in a prepositional construction. This has me puzzled … As a Brit I have _never_ heard another Brit use the phrase “different than” - it’s always “different to”, which is presumably where the Aussies got it from? As soon as I started to communicate with Americans on the internet I noticed they were saying “different than”, and it has always sounded odd to me! Julie ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/24 "2003-06-16T00:22:05Z")
Presumably that’s where the Aussies got it from… I have [G](http://www.fearofflying.com.au/g) online right now, and he says he’s never noticed. F\_X ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/25 "2003-06-16T01:30:54Z")
This Aussie has _never_ heard “different than”. It’s “different from” usually, except when it’s "different _to_. In fact, come t’ think of it, I say “different to”. ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648/26 "2003-06-16T06:53:01Z")
Never heard it, eh? Well, I guess that kinda resolves that question. 😉 F\_X [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-alt-numeric-combinations-dont-mind-me/177648.md?page=1)