5 Minute Grammar Lesson ~ Then or Than?

on May 01, 2023

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Do you know when to use THEN or THAN correctly? They sound the same. They look very similar. But they mean two completely different things. Here’s what you need to know about the homophones then and than. The difference is really quite simple.

5 Minute Grammar Lesson ~ Then or Than?

What is the difference between “then” and “than”?

“Then” and “than” have two totally different words in the English language, have distinct meanings and functions. Generally speaking, “Then” is an adverb. It refers to a specific time or sequence of events. On the other hand, “than” is generally a conjunction used to make some kind of comparison between two different things or to express a preference for one thing over another.

How to Use the Word THEN

“Then” can be used to refer to a moment in the past, present, or future.

THEN deals with time, or it shows a sequence.

I want you to take a bath and THEN go to bed.
First you must eat your peas. THEN you can have dessert.
Take a left on First Street, and THEN a right on Pine Avenue.
I went to the store, and THEN I came home.
I’ll finish this task, THEN take a break.

How to Use the Word THAN

“Than,” on the other hand, is often used with comparative adjectives or adverbs, such as “bigger than,” “faster than,” or “more intelligent than.”

If you are comparing two things, use THAN.

Anna is taller THAN Ben.
The big house costs more THAN the little house.
Clothes from the Gap cost more THAN clothes from Goodwill.
The blue car is faster than the red car.
I prefer chocolate ice cream more than vanilla.

Examples of Correct vs Incorrect usage of THEN and THAN

To better understand the difference between “then” and “than,” let’s look at some examples of correct usage!

Example 1: Then or Than

Incorrect: I would rather go to the park then the beach.

Correct: I would rather go to the park than the beach.

In this example, “than” is used to compare going to the park versus going to the beach. Using “then” would not make sense in this context, as it does not express a comparison.

Example 2: Then or Than

Incorrect: If it rains tomorrow, than we will stay inside.

Correct: If it rains tomorrow, then we will stay inside.

In this example, “then” is not necessary, as it does not add any additional meaning to the sentence. The correct sentence communicates the same idea without the unnecessary word.

Example 3: Than or Then

Incorrect: He was taller then his brother.

Correct: He was taller than his brother.

In this example, “than” is used to compare the height of two people. Using “then” would not make sense, as it does not make a comparison.

How to Remember the Difference Between THEN and THAN

Beyond just committing it to memory that “Then” refers to time or sequence, and “than” is used for comparison, here is one more trick that might be helpful to remember the difference between these two commonly misused homophones.

Here’s a mnemonic memory aid that might help:

“thEn” has an “E” for “Event” (referring to time or sequence)

“thAn” has an “A” for Comparison