Than versus Then
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Than and then are often confused. Be sure to use the appropriate word.
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Than
Than is a word that indicates comparison. When talking about a noun (person, place, thing, or concept) being more, less, better, etc. in relation to another noun, the word than is needed.
Correct
- There are more carrots than potatoes in your refrigerator.
- Jennifer was sicker than a dog last week.
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Test Usage
If than can be replaced with in comparison to, will is still make sense?
Correct
- "The old car will cost more in comparison to a new car" makes sense, so here it can be written, "The old car will cost more than a new car.
Incorrect
- "You will never guess what happened to me in comparison to" does not make sense.
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Then
Then is a word that indicates time. When telling about a sequence of events or giving instructions in a step-by-step order, the word then is needed.
Correct
- When we started we had five, and then there was only one.
- Scrub the dishes, then put them into the dishwasher.
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Test Usage
If then can be replaced with next, will is still make sense?
Correct
- "I will go to the bank next" makes sense, so here it can be written, "I will go to the bank then.
Incorrect
- "I like oranges better next apples" does not make sense.
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Note
- People tend to misuse then more than than. Than mistakes listed above may look strange; however, the then mistakes may seem more acceptable. Pay attention to then and its uses.
- The simplest mnemonic is that then is a time word equivalent to when, so they are both spelled with an "e."
