Than vs. Then

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Writing tip of the week

Than vs.Then

We never pay much attention to these two very commonly used words. Even when we are typing, most word processing software will not pick up on this grammatical error. Until you have actually seen and understood the difference, it’s not very difficult to mix them up while writing your sentences. 

Than (conjunction) - refers to size and making comparisons between nouns.

Then (adverb) - refers to time and the actions which happen in the past tense.

"Then" is often used to situate actions in time. For example, you started walking in the park and then decided to run. It’s also used in if … then constructions such as, “If  you are racing, then you might have to skip walking.” It also works as a noun meaning “that time” (e.g., “I wanted to run, but then was not a good time”)

"Than" is used mainly in making comparisons e.g., “My fitness is better than yours”; “I stay fit differentlythan you do.”

Another way to remember which word to use at any given time is to focus on the content of your sentence. “Then” has many uses but “than” is only used in comparisons; remembering this fact, you can easily avoid the misuse of these words. For a visual understanding check out the mini comic strip