Many learners of English confuse the words another, other and different. They often use another instead of different, and other instead of another. In this post, I’m going to clarify the differences for you.
another vs. different
The words another and different are very similar in meaning and they can often be used interchangeably.
I don’t like this restaurant. I want to go to another restaurant.
I don’t like this restaurant. I want to go to a different restaurant.
However, the word another also means ‘one more’. In this meaning, we cannot use different:
The lesson hasn’t finished yet. We have another hour.
Another difference is that the word different can be used with a plural noun. The word another cannot be used with a plural noun:
These are different times.
There is a small subtle difference between another and different, which could be confusing for many learners. The word different means that something is ‘not the same’. The word another means ‘some other’:
Let’s meet another time. (= some other time)
Let’s meet a different time. (= not the same time that we arranged)
In the above example, the difference is very subtle. It is a question of feeling the most suitable word to use in the context. However, we cannot use another without a following noun. We can only say different:
Jane isn’t like her sister. She’s different.
another vs. other
The words another and other mean the same thing, except that another is used with a singular noun and other is used with uncountable and plural nouns:
She’s going to the cinema with another friend.
She’s going to the cinema with other friends.
However, when we are talking about one of two things of the same type, the word other can be used with the article the or a pronoun (my, you, his, her, etc.) before a singular noun, for example:
For a change, let’s go to the other cafe today.
Don’t buy that phone. Buy the other one.
“Is that his younger sister?” “No, that’s his other sister.”
studenttt3 says
Thank you very much, so very much indeed!!!!
Henry says
Thanks so much, your explanation really helped me to understand the differences of these words. I really appreciate it.
peter says
Thank you very much for helping us understand confusing word.
Irma says
Thanks . This article really help me a lot
Ehab says
This is a very excellent explanation. I learned another thing, at a different website that has been helpful for me and for other people. Thanks a lot.
mukesh says
To a great extent , it will be worth reading for pre intermediate students. Thanks.
Paolo says
Very helpfull article
Sreten says
Thanks for the explanation but I think “other” can be used with singular countable nouns when there are two things or a pair. For example, “Are you going on vacation to your house on the beach? No, I going to my other house I have in the mountain.”
Nestor says
Yes, you’re right! Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve updated the explanation.
ashu rajput says
Thanku very helpful artical
refugee says
that’s really helpful
James says
What about “Don’t go to that store. Go to the other store.” In this example, other is used with a singular and countable noun.
JayL says
Thank you for the posting.
But “However, we cannot use another without a following noun. We can only say different” is not true. We can use `another` as a pronoun, sometimes. For example, we can say “I love this piece of cake. I think I’ll have another.”
Fine & Fast says
James, but your sentence is wih “the other”. See the examples: That girl right there is my sister; THE OTHER is my mom. / I don’t like this red dress, I want THE OTHER one.