Different vs One stone isn't six

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Different

Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective

One stone isn't six

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Different
 DifferentOne stone isn't six
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪfrənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪfrənt/"]/🇬🇧 //wʌn stəʊn ˈɪzənt sɪks//🇺🇸 //wʌn stoʊn ˈɪzənt sɪks//
Meaningnot the same as someone or something elseOne thing isn't equal to six things.
ExampleShe has a different perspective on the issue than I do.Saying 'one stone isn't six' illustrates that one person's effort cannot match the team's total.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsappear, be, feel, very, far, clearly, from, to, than, appear, be, feel, very, far, clearly, from, to, thanequal value, one versus many, different scales
Antonymssimilar, alike, same-
Common mistakesUsing 'different than' instead of 'different from'., Confusing 'different' with 'difficult'., 'Different' used without a noun when it needs context.Misusing in formal contexts where a more serious phrase is needed., Failing to recognize it as a phrase that emphasizes difference rather than quantity.
Usage notesUsed to describe things that are not alike. Appropriate in most contexts, but more formal settings may require clearer specifications of differences.This phrase can be used to express that one item or situation is not equivalent to something larger or more significant. It’s informal and can be used in everyday conversation.

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Different
One stone isn't six

Frequently asked questions: Different vs One stone isn't six

What's the difference between Different and One stone isn't six?

Different: not the same as someone or something else One stone isn't six: One thing isn't equal to six things.

Which is more common: Different and One stone isn't six?

Different is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Different: She has a different perspective on the issue than I do. One stone isn't six: Saying 'one stone isn't six' illustrates that one person's effort cannot match the team's total.

Can I use Different and One stone isn't six interchangeably?

Not always. Different and One stone isn't six 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.

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