Cool MateThat's different vs Unlike
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's different
Top 1,000 (very common)
Unlike
Top 2,000 (common)B1preposition
Most common: That's different
| That's different | Unlike | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈdɪf.ər.ənt//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈdɪf.ər.ənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌnˈlaɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌnˈlaɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | It's not the same as what was mentioned. | Not like something or someone else |
| Example | I thought you were going to wear the blue shirt, but that's different. | Music is quite unlike any other art form. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | that's different from, that's different than, I find that's different, not that's different, when that's different | unlike anything, unlike other, unlike those |
| Antonyms | - | like, similar |
| Common mistakes | Misuse in response to agreement - it should indicate a difference., Omitting context can confuse the meaning., Using in overly formal contexts can feel awkward. | Using 'unlike' with a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'unlike' with 'dislike'., Incorrectly placing 'unlike' before the subject. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to point out a deviation from a previous statement or idea. It can be used in both casual and formal conversations. | Use 'unlike' to compare differences. Common in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in formal academic writing where more precise comparisons are needed. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's different vs Unlike
What's the difference between That's different and Unlike?
That's different: It's not the same as what was mentioned. Unlike: Not like something or someone else
Which is more common: That's different and Unlike?
That's different is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That's different: I thought you were going to wear the blue shirt, but that's different. Unlike: Music is quite unlike any other art form.
Can I use That's different and Unlike interchangeably?
Not always. That's different and Unlike are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.