Commonly Confused
Then vs Than
What's the difference?
One letter apart, but they do completely different jobs. Once you know which is which, you'll never mix them up.
Quick answer
Than compares two things (bigger than). Then is about time or order (first this, then that). Comparison → than; time → then.
Compared side by side
(adverb) at that time, or next in a sequence.
- “We ate, then we left.”
- “Back then, life was simpler.”
- “If it rains, then we'll stay in.”
(conjunction) used to compare two things.
- “She's taller than me.”
- “This one is better than that one.”
- “I'd rather walk than drive.”
How to remember it
than has an 'a', like in 'compare' — it's for comparisons. then has an 'e', like in 'time' — it's about when.
Frequently asked
What's the easiest way to remember?
If you're comparing two things, use than. If it's about time or what happens next, use then. "Better than" (comparison) vs "and then" (time).
Is "more than" or "more then" correct?
"More than" — it's a comparison, so it takes than. "More then" is a common typo.