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“THAN” VS. “THEN”—WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Shundalyn Allen
Updated on June 20, 2023Grammar

Two acquaintances who share many of the same features may be difficult to
distinguish from one another. How can you tell them apart? One way is to get to
know them better. Even identical twins have unique characteristics in their
physical appearance and personality. A lot of people make errors with the nearly
identical than/then pair, but you don’t have to be one of them. Just use the
same strategy you use to tell one person from another—get to know them!



Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your
spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads
your text, so your work is polished wherever you write.





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THAN VS. THEN: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? 

The word than is used for comparisons to show who or what something is compared
against. For example,“cats are smarter than dogs.” The word then is used to show
time, as in “at that time” or “after that happened.” For example,“I exercised
then took a shower.”


WHEN TO USE THAN

A conjunction is a word that connects two clauses or coordinates words in the
same clause. Than is a conjunction used to introduce the second part of an
unequal comparison. It also introduces the rejected choice in expressions of
preference. Finally, than can mean “except” or “when.”



Amanda is shorter than Annabelle. She would rather not go than wear high heels.



Than can also function as a preposition. A preposition connects a noun or
pronoun to a verb or adjective in a sentence, usually to express a spatial or
temporal relationship. As a preposition, than means “in relation to” or “by
comparison with.” Here’s a (technically correct) construction you may not have
seen before:



Annabelle is a friend than whom there is none more caring.



Than appears in a lot of idioms. Many of them, such as “more fun than a barrel
of monkeys” or “more dead than alive,” feature comparisons. You’ve probably
heard some of the most popular ones (e.g., “easier said than done,” “better late
than never”) but many may be new to you. For example, have you heard of “more
sinned against than sinning”? Wouldn’t it be a fun project to find out how these
colorful expressions started?


WHEN TO USE THEN

Then often functions as an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs. Dictionaries define then lots of different ways: in that case, at that
time, next in order of place or time, at the same time, soon afterward, in
addition, or as a consequence.



Standing next to Edwin is Ethan, then my roommate Claire, then me. Edwin told
me, “If we are having fun together, then you should take lots of photographs.”
There were no digital cameras back then!



Sometimes, then is an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, or describing word,
it means “being such, existing, or being at the time indicated.” As a noun, it
means “that time.”



My then roommate Claire moved out and I have not seen her since then.



Then appears in some idioms too. One means “on the other hand”: Edwin is funny,
but then I laugh at everything. Another idiom means “at that exact time and
place, or at once”: Ethan asked me if I wanted to take a road trip, and I went
home to pack my suitcase right then and there.

Then and than have many similar characteristics. They are spelled alike, except
for the e in then and the a in than. However, telling them apart is not
impossible. They have different characteristics: How you define than is
definitely not the same as how you define then! They have different
“personalities” in that they function as different parts of speech. Do you feel
that you know them better now?


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