One of my pet peeves is “different than”. That’s impossible. One can be bigger than, fatter than, slower than or smarter than; but they can’t be DIFFERENT than! If one is different, they are different FROM; like apples are different from oranges. Ai-yai-yai donner vedder!
then -- usually implies a time sequence: I'll go to the Post Office then to the gas station.
than -- a relational comparison: I like ice cream better than kale.
Still, people mess this up all the time.
When my Dad wanted to use the subtle approach to deal with the way others speak and think, he would say this......
It’s exactly the same, but different.
Most people have no reaction. Mostly because of a lack of skills.
Those who laughed or questioned his use of the phrase were people who had a good education and a brain.
Our society has slowly been headed towards IDIOCRACY.
My son and many others is age don’t even know how to change the oil on their car, and many don’t even know how to check the oil.