differ from, differ in, differ with

When differ means “be unlike,” it is followed by the preposition from.

  • The twins differ from each other only in height.

When differ means “disagree,” it is followed usually by the preposition with or sometimes by the preposition from.

  • I differed with Bill about our bike club’s budget.
  • Denzil’s answers to the math questions differed from Samantha’s.

When two subjects are being compared, their elements of difference are introduced by the phrasal verb differ in.

  • The east and west coasts of Canada differ greatly in climate.

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