Confusing words explained
“than” vs “then” — What’s the Difference?
Then = at that time; than = comparison. Pronounced slightly different: /ðɛn/ vs /ðæn/.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: than vs then
Then = at that time; than = comparison. Pronounced slightly different: /ðɛn/ vs /ðæn/.
than vs then Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of than
Used to introduce the second part of a comparison between two things.
Word used to show that one thing is more or less of something compared to another thing.
Always use for comparisons: 'X is bigger than Y.' Compare 'than' with 'then' carefully.
- He is taller than his brother.
- This book is more interesting than that one.
Meaning of then
At that time; next in sequence; therefore or in that case.
A word meaning at a certain time in the past or what comes next in a sequence.
Use for time references: 'then' = when; 'than' = comparison.
- Back then, we lived in a small town.
- First we ate breakfast, then we went to school.
Usage Notes & Nuance
than: Very common in speech and writing; often confused with 'then' by learners of English.
How to Remember the Difference
Than = comparison (A then B in alphabet). Then = time.
Common Mistakes with than and then
Mistake with than
Wrong: He is more tall than me.
Correct: He is taller than me.
Use comparative form 'taller', not 'more tall' (one-syllable adjective).
Mistake with than
Wrong: She is more smart then her sister.
Correct: She is smarter than her sister.
Use 'than' not 'then'. And 'smarter', not 'more smart'.
Mistake with then
Wrong: She is taller then her brother.
Correct: She is taller than her brother.
For comparisons use 'than'; 'then' is only for time or sequence.
Mistake with then
Wrong: Back then I'm a student.
Correct: Back then I was a student.
With 'back then' (past time reference), use past tense verb.
Practice Quiz: than or then?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
He is taller _____ his brother.
Question 2
This book is more interesting _____ that one.
Question 3
The situation is far more complicated _____ it initially appeared.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About than vs then
What’s the difference between “than” and “then”?
Then = at that time; than = comparison. Pronounced slightly different: /ðɛn/ vs /ðæn/.
When should I use “than”?
Always use for comparisons: 'X is bigger than Y.' Compare 'than' with 'then' carefully.
When should I use “then”?
Use for time references: 'then' = when; 'than' = comparison.
How can I remember than vs then?
Than = comparison (A then B in alphabet). Then = time.
Is it “than” or “then” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.