Similar words: at hand, thank, thanks, other than, rather than, thanks to, no less than, no more than. Meaning: [ðæn; ð(ə)n] 
conj.1. (used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison): She’s taller than I am. 2. (used after some adverbs and adjectives expressing choice or diversity, such as other, otherwise, else, anywhere, or different, to introduce an alternative or denote a difference in kind, place, style, identity, etc.): I had no choice other than that. You won’t find such freedom anywhere else than in this country. 3. (used to introduce the rejected choice in expressions of preference): I’d rather walk than drive there. 4. except; other than: We had no choice than to return home. 5. when: We had barely arrived than we had to leave again. prep. 6. in relation to; by comparison with (usually fol. by a pronoun in the objective case): He is a person than whom I can imagine no one more courteous..
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1. Better deny at once than promise long. 
2. Man has not a greater enemy than himself.
3. Better one suffer, than a nation grieve.
4. The heart sees further than the head.
5. Nothing worse than a familiar enemy.
6. One honest word is better than two oaths.
7. Imagination is sometimes more vivid than reality.
8. Many heads are better than one.
9. A good name is easier lost than won.
10. Better good neighbours near than relations far away.
11. False friends are worse than open enemies.
12. A tattler is worse than a thief.
13. Poor without debt is better than a prince.
14. Better an empty purse than an empty head.
15. A good name is earlier lost than won.
16. Words cut (or hurt) more than swords.
17. A good fame is better than a good face.
18. Ill air slays sooner than the sword.
19. Better die with honour than live with shame.
20. Better spare at brim than at bottom.
21. A chain is no stronger than its weakest lining.
22. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
23. The pen is mightier than the sword.
24. A barking dog is better than a sleeping lion.
25. A clear fast is better than a dirty breakfast.
26. It is better to be safe than sorry.
27. Better master one than engage with ten.
28. Better wear out than rust out.
29. Better ask twice than lose you way once.
30. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
More similar words: at hand, thank, thanks, other than, rather than, thanks to, no less than, no more than, not more than, more than ever, Thanksgiving, more often than not, hand in hand, that, see that, all that, that is, and that, at that, so that, now that, in that, hand, and all that, only that, seeing that, hand in, hand on, on hand, by hand.
Examples of how to use the word “than” in a sentence. How to connect “than” with other words to make correct English sentences.
than (prep, conj): used to join two parts of a comparison
Use “than” in a sentence
| I’d rather stay at home than go out. |
| I’d rather walk than take a bus. |
| Nothing makes me feel more relaxed than a walk on the beach. |
| I’m not smarter than you. |
| Women tend to live longer than men. |
| He loves me more than you do. |
| It was much better than I’d expected. |
| She spent more money than usual. |
| He came home later than usual. |
| I value our friendship more than anything. |
| I now view life differently than I used to. |
| Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. |
| Health is more important than wealth.
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Even Native English speakers mess up than and then because of their similar spelling and pronunciations. However, their meanings significantly vary.
This guide will show you nuanced differences between then vs. than. Learn when to use the two words in the sentence before the self-anointed grammar policemen point out your grammar error.
Then vs. Than: What’s The Difference?
Then is an adverb, noun, or adjective that indicates a previous time. Meanwhile, than is a conjunction used when comparing two items or people.
Use then in writing or events when there is an element of time. In the English language, then means at that time, at that point, or next. You’ll find it in phrases like since then and until then to show a reference of time.
Use than in common phrases like better than, further than, taller than, or broader than. You’ll find this word after terms like other, less, more, and rather.
In Middle English, then and than used to be the same word used for all their meanings. People used them to show relationships with time and for comparison purposes. However, modern writing now treats them differently.
That’s why the two words are now homophones people get confused with. Homophones are words that show an essential difference in spelling but similarities in sound.
When to Use Then
You can use then as an adverb to replace at that time in question to make grammatical sense. This adverb helps you place events in time in order, such as when relating to a future time.
Examples:
- But by then, Shannon might be tired.
- Let’s buy ice cream and then watch a movie.
Here’s a longer, multilayered example of then relating to the future.
My first subject is Chemistry, then French, then Science. Then, I’ll have lunch, go to Math class, and go home.
Then can also mean previous or former. Some English speakers use the term if they can’t recall the exact time of an event in the past. Here are some sentences that use then relating to a previous time.
Examples:
- The then president visited our small town.
- We lived in San Diego then.
Aside from using then in terms of time, you can also use it to show consequence or mean in that case.
Examples:
- If you had taken care of the cat, then we wouldn’t be in this situation.
- I slept late, so then I woke up dizzy.
When to Use Than
Making an unequal comparison requires using a particular word in the English language. Than is the conjunction that expresses a form of comparison in a sentence. Use it to introduce the second item or person to make direct comparisons.
For instance, when you say “truth is stranger than fiction,” it means that real events are more unnatural than imagination.
Examples:
- My mother told me that a curious person is better than a know-it-all.
Is it Earlier Than or Earlier Then?
Both phrases are correct but have different meanings. The more common phrase you might be looking for is earlier than. For example, you might arrive at school earlier than usual. However, you used to come earlier then.
Is it Later Then or Later Than?
The correct phrase is later than if you want to show a comparison between two late items, people, or events.
Is it Rather Then or Rather Than?
The correct term is rather than since rather is used to show preference in a specific matter. For instance, you might know someone who wants wine rather than a martini.
Is it Other Than or Other Then?
Other than is the appropriate phrase as it means apart from or except.
Is it Better Than or Better Then?
Better than is one of the most popular phrases with the word than. To be better than something or someone means you’re superior or more excellent.
Is it More Than or Then?
The appropriate phrase is more than, which indicates a bigger value or amount. It can also mean extremely, as in more than gratefulto be reading this post.
Is it Less Then or Less Than?
Use less than as a synonym for far from or certainly not.
It is Well Then or Well Than?
The correct phrase is well then to indicate that what someone said was unexpected or inappropriate. Well than is a wrong phrase because well is not in its comparative form.
Than Me or Than I?
The traditional rule is to use than I because the longer version of the sentence is typically than I am. However, it can lead to outdated-sounding language, especially if you use a different pronoun.
Example:
- He is smarter than she.
- He is smarter than I.
Can You Start a Sentence With Then?
You can start a sentence using then when showing a list of events or a chronology of events.
Example:
- I read a book last night. Then I got hungry and ordered food.
How Do You Use Than in a Sentence?
Here are plenty of examples of how you can use than in a sentence.
An asteroid wider than two football fields will zoom past Earth in the wee hours of Thursday (Aug. 4). The asteroid is set to pass at 12:23 a.m. (ET). [Live Science].
Indeed, it may have been no more than a coincidence that Tsai Chi-chang, deputy speaker of Taiwan’s legislature, appeared to respond to Pelosi’s suit by wearing a pink tie to meet her on Wednesday morning. [CNN].
She recalls one episode in which a former employer chastised her and two other assistants, each of whom made more than $150,000 a year, she says, for putting bananas in the refrigerator, instead of on the kitchen counter. [Wall Street Journal].
The arrests on Tuesday near Krugersdorp, a city northwest of Johannesburg, bring the total number of people detained since the attack to more than 120. [The Guardian].
How Do You Use Then in a Sentence?
Let’s take a look at these examples of then in sentences.
Shark! Man in New Jersey catches, then releases a 7-foot sand tiger shark. [Fox News].
Speaking to CNN, the congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said sorry for broaching the issue in a debate – but then said again she thought Biden would not run. [The Guradian].
No, because smartphones bring these three features into one product. Then why should organizations pay for three different products, when it is indeed possible to bring all these aspects into one smart product? [Forbes]
The Real Difference Between Than vs. Then
One of the writing issues that English speakers and writers face is the confusion between than vs. then. Using the two words interchangeably can be annoying for grammar perfectionists, even in informal writing. Remember:
- Use then in a sentence when referring to a sense of time, whether past or future. You can also use it to show consequences.
- Use than to feature comparisons between two unequal items, places, persons, or events.
Answer the worksheet below to test your knowledge of this homophone.
Justin Greer has already given an excellent answer, but it’s worth looking at why some examples of this seem more marked/forced, while others (like W2’s comment on the question) seem rather more plausible.
The most obvious way to get than at the start of a full declarative sentence is to use a “PP-fronting” construction, i.e. putting the prepositional phrase “than …” at the start, where you would normally expect to find the subject of the sentence.
So the key is to notice when and why English uses PP-fronting. It gets used mainly for topicalisation: that is, taking a phrase which would not normally the main topic of the sentence, and making it the topic. (See: the topic–comment model; and a couple of papers on PP-fronting.)
A sentence that fronts a “than…” phrase, then, is going to sound more natural if there is a clear reason for the phrase to get topicalised. One very strong natural reason is if it’s being contrasted with a parallel phrase in another sentence, where the rest of the sentence stays the same.
Beethoven is perhaps a greater composer than Mozart. Than Bach, though, he is certainly not greater!
Another way to get than to the front is to have the subject of the sentence a noun phrase which, by ellipsis, begins with than:
Running faster than a cat is easy. Than a dog, though, is more difficult.
Here the subject is the noun phrase “[running faster] than a dog”. So this example does rely crucially on its context, with the previous sentence supplying the ellipsis. It’s still a fully grammatical simple declarative sentence, though!
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People often misuse the words than and then. It’s a common mistake, in part because the words are pronounced similarly or in some cases because you simply don’t know the difference. However, it is important to know in which situations you would use each word, especially for academic or business writing. As a general rule, use than to indicate comparison and then to indicate time. Practice both usage and pronunciation, and then you’ll be using these words better than anyone you know.
Grammar Help
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1
Remember that then is a word that indicates time or sequence. In all of its uses, then is used when you want to talk about a point in time or sequence of events. If someone is asking when something happened, then is the appropriate word for your response.[1]
- For example, if your teacher asks you where you were at noon yesterday, you could respond, “I was at lunch then.”
- If someone asks when something will be ready, you could let them know to, “Come back tomorrow afternoon. I will have everything ready by then.”
EXPERT TIP
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
Christopher Taylor, Adjunct Assistant Professor of English, notes: «Than» is generally used to compare two things (e.g., bigger than a quarter), whereas «then» helps you establish a sequence of events (e.g., first this, then that).»
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Connect a series of events using then. Another common use for then is to indicate sequential items. Use then to tell someone what comes next in time, space, or order. Some examples of these uses include:[2]
- We are going to leave at 9, and then we stop for lunch around 11.
- First, you line up part A and part B. Then, you screw them together.
- The inner planets go Mercury, Venus, Earth, and then Mars.
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3
Add additional or conditional information using then. Then can also be used to mean «in addition,» «moreover,» or «in that case.» Use then when you need to add additional information to your sentence, or to modify outcomes based on conditions.[3]
- If you’re adding additional information you might say, “The dinner costs $20, and then you have to add the tip.”
- To express conditional information you may say, “If the weather is good, then we will go to the beach tomorrow.”
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Use then when you are indicating something that was true at one time. In some special cases, then can be used as an adjective to indicate something that was true at the time, even if it isn’t so anymore. You may hear then used this way often with people like politicians who once held a position, but no longer do.[4]
- For example, “That program was instituted in 2010 by then President Barack Obama.”
- This use isn’t limited to just people, though. You could also say something like, “The historian wrote about the then thriving state of Rome.”
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Use than as a conjunction in comparative contexts. A conjunction is a word used to connect 2 parts of a sentence. When you are talking about a noun (thing, person, place or concept) in relation to another noun, use than to introduce the second part of your comparison. Than is usually preceded by comparative words like better, worse, more, less, higher, lower, smaller, larger, etc. For example:
- There are more onions than scallions in your fridge.
- I can run faster now than I could last year.
- I like cloudy weather more than I like the sun.
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2
Indicate a correlation between 2 events with than. Than can also be used with past tense verbs and some adverbial expressions. Adverbial expressions are multi-word expressions that function to modify or qualify a verb. In these cases, than is being used to indicate that one thing correlated with another.[5]
- For example, if it feels like your alarm goes off right after you fall asleep, you may say, “No sooner did I lay my head down than my clock started to ring.”
- This usage may seem similar to how then may be used sometimes, which can be confusing. The difference is that then would be used if there was a sequence, but than is not describing a sequence in this instance. It is showing correlation or relationship between 2 things, such as laying down your head and your alarm clock going off.
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3
Use than when you can’t find a synonym for what you’re saying. If you’re trying to decide between than and then, try substituting the word. Than is a unique word with no synonyms. Then, however, can be substituted for works like “subsequently,” “next,” or “later.»[6]
- For example, it wouldn’t work to say “Jessica arrived later subsequently Joe.” Even though you’re talking about time, in this context you’re still comparing who was later. That is why this sentence needs to be, “Jessica arrived later than Joe.”
- However, it does make sense to say, “First and need to shower and next I have to catch the bus.” In this context, “next” can be substituted for then.
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Test your usage. If you’re ever confused when you’re writing, test each word to see if it makes sense in the context of your sentence. Try asking yourself these questions as you write to find the correct word:[7]
- If I write the word «next» instead of «then,» will the sentence still make sense?
- «I will go to the store next» makes sense, so here we would say «I will go to the store then.»
- If I write the phrase «in comparison to» instead of the word «than,» will the sentence still make sense?
- «A used car costs less in comparison to a new car» makes sense, so you’d want to say «It costs less than a new car.»
- If I write the word «next» instead of «then,» will the sentence still make sense?
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Practice writing with then and than frequently. The best way to get used to the different uses of then and than is to use them in context. Try writing a brief comparative essay to help you get used to than. Then, try writing out a set of instructions to practice your use of then. [8]
- Pay attention to your use of then and than in your everyday writing, too. Set aside a few extra minutes to proofread your essays, letters, school work, and documents so that you can check for the correct usage.
- You can even look for then and than quizzes and exercises online to help you test your usage.[9]
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Pronounce the words differently. Phonetically speaking, native speakers of English use the schwa (ǝ, kind of like a soft «eh» sound) because it’s more efficient in daily conversations. Consequently, lots of «a»s and «e»s are not pronounced distinctly. However, taking the time to pronounce the words distinctly can help reinforce their use in your mind.[10]
- Try saying than with your mouth opened wide and the tongue pressed down toward your teeth. The vowel sounds from the back of the mouth and the throat is somewhat constricted.
- Say then with your mouth partially opened. The vowel rises from a relaxed throat and the tongue rests.
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What’s the difference between the words «than» and «then»?
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
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How do you use the word «then» in a sentence?
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
English Professor
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When would you use «than» in a sentence?
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
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The simplest mnemonic is that «then» is a time word equivalent to «when,» so they are both spelled with an «e.»
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Pay attention to grammar check. If your word processor underlines or highlights the word «then» or «than,» you may have chosen the wrong word. Re-read your sentence to be sure.
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People tend to misuse then more than than. Than mistakes may look strange or grossly incorrect; however, the then mistakes may seem more acceptable. Pay special attention to then and its uses.
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Article SummaryX
To use the words than and then properly, remember that than is used when comparing things and then is used to indicate time. For example, if you were comparing how many oranges and apples you have, you would say «I have more oranges than apples.» But if you were explaining which fruit you bought first, you would say «I bought oranges and then I bought apples.» To learn helpful tricks for remembering the difference between than and then, keep reading!
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