Than vs. Then: One Question Fixes Every Sentence
Mignon Fogarty brings extensive knowledge of English grammar, language usage, and clear writing. Her experience explaining everyday language questions focuses on approachable examples that help readers understand how words and sentences work.
Quick answer
Use 'than' only for comparisons; use 'then' for time, sequence, addition, or cause-and-effect. Use 'then' for time, sequence, cause-and-effect, or addition (first mix, then bake; if it rains, then we stay in). The two words have completely different jobs, so swapping them changes the meaning of your sentence.
The One-Question Test
Before you type either word, ask yourself: Am I comparing two things?
- Yes? Write than.
- No? Write then.
That single question handles almost every case. The sections below explain why, and show you what each word actually does.
What “Than” Does: Comparisons Only
Than has one job. It joins two parts of a comparison. You will always find a comparative word nearby, such as more, less, better, worse, faster, older, or any adjective ending in -er.
If you can spot that comparative word, than is almost certainly correct. If you cannot find one, you probably need then.
Correct and incorrect pairs
| Incorrect / Nonstandard | Correct (Standard US) |
|---|---|
| I have more free time now then I used to. | I have more free time now than I used to. |
| The gym is better then the sports club. | The gym is better than the sports club. |
| She finished faster then anyone expected. | She finished faster than anyone expected. |
In each wrong version, then sneaks in where a comparison is happening. The fix is always the same: find the comparative word (more, better, faster), and write than after it.
For a similar word-choice challenge, see Affect vs. Effect: One Rule That Always Works.
What “Then” Does: Four Distinct Meanings
Then is an adverb. It never signals a comparison. It carries four different meanings depending on context.
1. At that time
Use then to point to a moment in the past or future. It usually sits at the end of the clause.
Example: “When I was a child, I lived in Austria for a while.” “What age were you then?”
Example: “This time next week, I’ll be on a plane. Where will you be then?”
2. Next (sequence)
Use then to show one thing follows another. This is the most common use in instructions and stories.
Example: Heat olive oil in a pan, then add chopped garlic and salt.
Example: He opened the door, then the lights came on and everyone shouted.
This meaning of then is especially useful in step-by-step writing. If you are listing steps, then is your word, not than.
3. In addition (informal speech)
In spoken and informal English, then can mean “and also” or “on top of that.”
Example: Hiring a car is an extra expense, and then there’s the cost of insurance.
Example: Here’s our bedroom, and then we have two more bedrooms down the hall.
This use is more common in speech than in formal writing.
4. In that case (cause and effect)
Then pairs with if to show a result. The pattern is: if [condition], then [result].
Example: If we buy Jason a present, then we’ll have to buy one for Isaac too.
Example: If you love food, then you will enjoy this book.
In informal speech, then can also appear alone at the end of a clause: “You don’t want anything to eat? Okay, I’ll just get you a coffee then.”
Side-by-Side: Than vs. Then
| Criterion | Than | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Conjunction (joins two parts of a comparison) | Adverb (modifies time, sequence, or condition) |
| Core meaning | Comparison only | Time, sequence, addition, or cause-and-effect |
| Signal word nearby | A comparative: more, less, better, -er | Often if (condition) or a sequence of events |
| Register | All registers | All registers; “in addition” meaning is more informal |
| Common error | Writing then after a comparative word | Writing than when describing a sequence |
Quick Self-Check for Your Own Writing
- Find the word in question in your sentence.
- Look left: is there a comparative word (more, less, better, worse, or an -er adjective)?
- If yes, write than. Done.
- If no, ask what the word is doing: marking a time, a next step, an addition, or a condition? Write then.
You can also try a quick swap test. Replace the word with “at that time” or “next.” If the sentence still makes sense, then is correct. If it sounds wrong, you likely need than (and a comparative word should be nearby).
For other word-choice decisions that use a similar substitution test, see Who vs. Whom: A Two-Second Test That Works Every Time and Fewer vs. Less: Which Word to Use and When.
The Most Common Mistake and How to Catch It
The error almost always goes one direction: writers type then where they need than. This happens because the two words sound similar in fast speech.
Incorrect: My coffee is hotter then yours.
Correct: My coffee is hotter than yours.
The word hotter is a comparative adjective. Any time you see a word like that, than follows. Reading your sentence aloud slowly can help you catch the slip, because your ear will notice that “hotter then yours” does not quite land right.
The reverse error (writing than for then) is less common but does appear in instructions:
Incorrect: Stir the batter, than pour it into the pan.
Correct: Stir the batter, then pour it into the pan.
No comparison is happening here. The sentence describes a sequence of steps, so then is the right choice.
Register and Formality
Both words work in formal and informal writing. The only register note worth flagging is the “in addition” meaning of then. That use is more common in spoken English than in formal prose. In a business report or academic paper, you would more likely write “and also” or “in addition” rather than “and then.” The other three meanings of then (time, sequence, condition) are fine in any register.
If you want to sharpen other punctuation and grammar decisions in formal writing, Semicolons: Two Rules and a Quick Self-Check covers a closely related area.
Frequently asked questions
Can 'then' ever appear in a comparison sentence?
Yes, but it plays a different role. In 'She was younger then than she looks now,' the word 'then' means 'at that time' and 'than' signals the comparison. Both words appear, each doing its own job. The test still works: 'than' follows the comparative word 'younger,' and 'then' marks a point in time.
Can 'then' be used in an 'if/then' sentence?
Yes. 'Then' works in 'if/then' sentences to show cause and effect or sequence. For example: 'If you finish your homework, then you can watch TV.' Here, 'then' signals what happens next. It is not used for comparison, so 'than' would be wrong in that spot.
Does 'then' at the end of a sentence mean something different?
Yes. In informal speech, 'then' at the end of a clause signals 'in that case.' For example: 'You don't want coffee? I'll just get water then.' It wraps up a logical result. This is a spoken pattern; in formal writing, you would more likely write 'in that case' or restructure the sentence.
What part of speech is 'than'?
Than works as a conjunction. It joins two parts of a comparison, linking the thing being compared to the standard it is measured against. For example, in 'She runs faster than I do,' 'than' connects 'she runs faster' to 'I do.' It does not function as an adverb, which is one reason it cannot replace 'then.'
Are there other easily confused word pairs like than vs. then?
Yes. Common pairs include affect vs. effect, fewer vs. less, and lay vs. lie. Each pair involves words that sound similar but serve different grammatical roles. A substitution test, like the one described for than vs. then, usually resolves the confusion quickly for these pairs as well.
Sources
- Word choice: that or than? · dictionary.cambridge.org
- Then · dictionary.cambridge.org
Prepared from these references and checked against them. References retrieved October 11, 2026.
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