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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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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.”
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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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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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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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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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English has a lot of confusing words, especially those words that look alike and sound alike. The two words I want to talk about today are no exception.
Choosing between then or than can be difficult since they are only a single letter apart and they sound pretty close to each other, but if you’re not sure which word to use and when, don’t worry. I get this question from a lot of readers.
What is the Difference Between Then and Than?
Today, I want to discuss the differences between then vs. than, their functions in a sentence, and give you a few tricks to remember them for the future. After reading this post, you shouldn’t have any trouble when choosing than or then.
When to Use Then
Then has a number of different functions, but it is most commonly used as either an adverb or an adjective. Below are a few examples of its many meanings and uses.
- At that time.
- I was at work then.
- Come over this afternoon; I’ll be ready then.
- Next in time, space, or order; immediately afterward.
- We saw a movie and then went out for dinner.
- We filled up the car and then began the trip.
- In addition; moreover; besides.
- The glasses are $100, and then there is sales tax.
- First you need a license, and then you can drive.
- In that case, accordingly.
- If the weather is bad, then my flight will get canceled.
- If there is heavy traffic, then I might be late.
All four of these uses are uses of then as an adverb. The use of then as an adjective is much more limited.
- Being so at the time.
- The decision was made by then chairman Bill Gates.
- The bill was signed by then President Ronald Reagan.
As you can see, most of the uses of then have to do with time. It can mean next in time or at the time. Keep this in mind for later when I give you the trick to remember.
When to Use Than
Than is a conjunction that is used for making comparisons between elements, objects, people, etc.
- He is taller than I am.
- She can run faster than I can.
- Your meal looks better than mine does.
- Coca-Cola is better than Pepsi.
In all of these examples, than is used to introduce a comparison between two things. This is important to keep in mind. No matter what you are comparing, whether it be time, money, speed, if a comparison is taking place, than is the correct word choice.
Popular Phrases Using Than
There are a few popular phrases that use than that people aren’t sure whether to use then or than. In the following phrases, than should be used.
- More than less than; less than more than. (Less then or less than?)
- He has less than I have. (Correct)
- He has less then I have. (Wrong).
- She has more than I have. (Correct)
- She has more then I have. (Wrong)
- Rather than or rather then?
- I would rather eat than sleep. (Correct)
- I would rather eat then sleep. (Wrong)
In the above example using rather then or than, the two sentences communicate different meanings. The first sentence says you prefer (right now at least) eating to sleeping. The second says you prefer to eat first and sleep second. So, the second sentence isn’t necessarily wrong in all meanings, it’s just wrong when your intended meaning is a comparison, not an ordered list of events.
- Sooner rather than later.
- I would prefer to eat sooner rather than later. (Correct)
- I would prefer to eat sooner rather then later. (Wrong)
For over 300 years, grammarians have insisted that than be regarded as a conjunction, as opposed to a preposition, in all of its uses.
This means that sentences such as Jack is taller than Jill should be construed as an elliptical version of the sentence Jack is taller than Jill is. In this sentence, the name Jill is standing in for the full clause Jill is.
In other words, the pronoun that follows than is determined by whether it serves as the subject or object of the verb “understood.”
The traditional rule, therefore, requires the sentence Jack is taller than I (not me), since the full sentence is understood to be Jack is taller than I am. But it does allow for sentences like this one, The report shocked Jack more than me, since this sentence is understood to be The report shocked Jack more than it shocked me. In this sentence Jack is acting as an object of shocked, whereas in the first sentence he was the subject.
It’s probably best to hold to this traditional rule if you are writing an academic paper for school or a book for publishing, but understand that it can lead to some cumbersome, outdated sounding language.
- He is taller than she.
- You are taller than I.
In informal writing and speech, sentences like he is smaller than her are widely used and almost universally accepted.
Remembering When to Use Then and Than
We’ve spent so much time talking about than that we almost forgot about the word then, so now it’s the time to come full circle on using then and than.
A good trick to keep track of these words is that then is usually used to indicate time. Both then and time have a letter “E” in them.
Than is used to make comparisons. Both than and comparison have a letter “A” in them.
Summary
These two words are very close in their appearance, but than vs. then have very different uses.
Then is commonly used to express a sense of time or what comes next or used to be.
Than is used to form comparisons between two things.
Contents
- 1 What is the Difference Between Then and Than?
- 2 When to Use Then
- 3 When to Use Than
- 4 Popular Phrases Using Than
- 5 Than Me vs. Than I
- 6 Remembering When to Use Then and Than
- 7 Summary
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Один из самых тонких моментов в грамматике английского языка – выучить, в каких ситуациях использовать то или иное слово. Звучит не очень трудно, но ситуаций вроде “who vs whom”, о которых я писал ранее, в английском очень много. Один из самых распространенных таких вопросов – разница в применении “than и then”.
Я нашел интересный пост с правилами, которые помогут разобраться с этим вопросом. Представляю вашему вниманию адаптированный перевод этого полезного материала.
Когда использовать «than»
Слово “than” обычно выполняет роль союза, который соединяет два отдельных предложения в одно или связывает слова во фразе. Чаще всего “than” используют для сравнений, также иногда слово может принимать значения “кроме” или “когда”.
Примеры:
He is older than I am.
I’d rather die than accept this job offer.
В некоторых случаях «than» выступает в роли предлога, соединяющего существительное или местоимение с глаголом/прилагательным. Этот прием используют для выражения временных отношений и, опять же, для сравнений.
Кроме того, можно использовать “than” с глаголами в прошедшем времени (особенно past perfect), а также во фразах, где события сразу же идут одно за другим.
Пример:
Hardly had I prepared for a meeting than the fire alarm rang.
Также, слово “than” входит в состав большого количества англоязычных идиом:
- «more dead than alive» («ни жив ни мертв»)
- «better late than never» («лучше поздно чем никогда»)
- «actions speak louder than words» («дела говорят громче слов»)
- «bite off more than you can chew» («откусить больше, чем можешь проглотить»)
- Etc.
Когда использовать «then»
В свою очередь, слово «then» часто выступает в качестве наречия, которое относится к прилагательному, глаголу и другим наречиям. У «then» может быть множество значений, но есть два самых часто встречающихся. Первое – это описание определенного времени в прошлом или будущем, а второе – описание последовательности событий.
Примеры:
First, do your homework, then play soccer.
This afternoon I’ll go to a business meeting, then hang up with an old friend in a bar.
Кроме того, слово «then» встречается во множестве идиом и устойчивых выражений:
- then and there («тогда и там»)
- every now and then («время от времени»)
- If you’re born to be hanged, then you’ll never be drowned («Тот, кому суждено быть повешенным, не утонет»)
- see you then («тогда увидимся»)
- etc.
Заключение
“Then и “Than” – очень похожи в произношении, на письме и даже в использовании. Поэтому-то так трудно решить, в каком случае какое из них следует применить. Но разница все же есть, и чтобы избежать ошибок, с этими тонкими моментами придется разбираться. Либо же можно установить инструмент для проверки грамматики и правописания – как правило такой софт умеет правильно использовать then/than.
Than is used in comparisons as a conjunction (as in «she is younger than I am») and as a preposition («he is taller than me»). Then indicates time. It is used as an adverb («I lived in Idaho then»), noun («we’ll have to wait until then»), and adjective («the then-governor»).
There’s nothing more embarrassing then correcting someone’s language only to realize that your correction contains its own error. Like maybe the one in our first sentence. Did you see it? That harmless little four-letter word then. It should have been than.
People get tripped up on then and than all the time—and why not? They look and sound so similar, and both words function as linguistic workhorses—then is most often an adverb, while than is usually a conjunction—which means that we mostly use them to connect more obviously significant nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
Keeping ‘Then’ and ‘Than’ Separate
The way to keep the pair straight is to focus on this basic difference: than is used when you’re talking about comparisons; then is used when you’re talking about something relating to time.
Than is the word to choose in phrases like smaller than, smoother than, and further than. And it’s the word that follows other, rather, less, and more.
Then—the option to choose when time is involved—fits in the phrases just then and back then, and after words like since and until. It’s also in the phrases and then some, every now and then, and even then.
In a handful of cases, though, than is used to say that something happens immediately after something else—that is, it’s used when you’re talking about something relating to time. So in «No sooner had I explained the rule than an exception came to mind,» it’s than not then that’s required. And also in hardly had I explained it than and scarcely had I explained it than. (Sorry…)
So when did this pair get so confusing? Turns out they’ve always been that way. Linguistically speaking, they’re identical twins. In Middle English, they were the same word; both spellings were used for all the various meanings. It’s been a few hundred years, however, since English has treated them as distinct, which means we have to too. We could go back to Middle English, but we think that would be harder then—um, that is, harder than—mastering these.
More Commonly Confused Words
- ‘They’re’ vs. ‘There’ vs. ‘Their’
- ‘Who’ vs. ‘Whom’
- ‘Affect’ vs. ‘Effect’
- ‘Further’ vs. ‘Farther’
The words «then» and «than» have two completely different uses in English, but it can be hard to know which word to use when. They’re both very common, and they only differ by one letter. English speakers often say the word really quickly, so it can sound more like «thn» instead of either «then» or «than.»
All of which means that when it comes time to write a sentence and you need one of these words, it can be tough to know which one to use. To get started, let’s look at their parts of speech.
Then is used most often as an adverb, which means it describes a verb or an adjective. One of the things adverbs do is tell you when something happened, which is exactly what «then» does. It provides time-based order to events. «Then» can sometimes be used as a noun or as an adjective itself.
Than is used most often as a conjunction, which means it connects two clauses within one sentence. It’s always used to make a comparison between two or more things and can sometimes be used as preposition.
In short, «then» is associated with time, and «than» is associated with comparisons.
When to Use «Then»
Still confused? It’s easier to see how to use each of these with a few examples.
Casey left work early on a warm day. He then went to the store for a popsicle. «Then» is an adverb modifying «went» in this sentence and giving the reader the order of events. It’s telling the reader that after Casey left his job, he went to the store.
Your birthday is in a week. You’ll have to wait until then to open your gifts. This is an example where «then» is used as a noun after the preposition «until,» but it still serves its purpose in ordering events. You can’t open your presents now or tomorrow. You have to wait until one week from now — which is then — to open them.
Last year, Sarah’s then-boyfriend Adam took her to Seattle on vacation. Here we have «then» used as an adjective. You’ll often see it this way, with the hyphen before the noun it modifies. Again, it’s telling the reader about time: Adam was Sarah’s boyfriend at the time, but he isn’t anymore.
How to Use «Than»
Laura is a faster swimmer than I am. «Than» is a conjunction here, connecting two independent clauses: «Laura is a faster swimmer» and «I am.» It’s also showing the reader the comparison between Laura’s swimming speed and mine.
Rick is older than Jeremiah. Here, «than» is a preposition, with «Jeremiah» as its object. But it’s still doing the job of showing comparison, this time between how old Rick is and how old Jeremiah is.
There are plenty of common phrases that use these words. Remember: When you’re talking about time, use «then.» «Just then,» «back then,» «since then,» «now and then,» and «until then» are all examples of when you would use «then.»
When you’re comparing things, phrases with «than» will work: «smaller than,» «older than,» «bigger than,» «rather than,» and many more.
There are a few times when you do use «than» in a time-related fashion — for instance, when something happens immediately after something else. Here’s an example: No sooner had I ended the call than I remembered I had something else to tell her. But this use is quite rare.