Then vs Than: What’s the Difference? (With Examples)

Then vs than is one of the most common mix-ups in English, and it catches native speakers just as often as learners. The two words look nearly identical and sound alike in everyday speech, yet they do completely different jobs in a sentence.

Getting them right matters more than it seems. "I am taller then you" is not a small typo — it reads as an error because the wrong word changes the job the sentence is doing. The good news is that the rule is simple: one word is about time, and the other is about comparison.

This guide explains then vs than with clear definitions, a side-by-side comparison table, plenty of correct examples, the most common mistakes to avoid, and a memory trick that makes the choice automatic.

What Does "Then" Mean?

"Then" is about time. It points to a moment — what happens next in a sequence, what was true at some point in the past, or what follows as a result.

Think of "then" as the "when" word. It answers questions like: When did it happen? What came after that?

• We cleaned the whole house, then we invited our friends over for dinner.
• First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees, then slide the tray onto the middle shelf.
• I was only twelve then, so I do not remember much about that trip.
• If you leave right now, then you will still catch the last train.
• I got up, and then I had breakfast.

What Does "Than" Mean?

"Than" is about comparison. It links two things that are being weighed against each other — which one is bigger, better, faster, cheaper, or preferred.

You will almost always find "than" next to comparing words such as more, less, better, worse, bigger, smaller, or rather.

• A bicycle is much cheaper than a car.
• She sings better than anyone else in the choir.
• I would rather walk home than wait another hour for the late bus.
• He is taller than he looks.

Then vs Than: Side-by-Side Comparison

• then — Time or order, what happens next: "She finished her homework, then she called her friend."
• then — A result that follows a condition: "If it rains, then we will stay indoors."
• then — At that time in the past: "He was a student then, not a doctor."
• than — Comparing two things: "Coffee is stronger than tea."
• than — Stating a preference: "I chose the window seat rather than the aisle."
• than — Used with more, less, better, worse: "This road is less crowded than the highway."

Then vs Than Examples

• Then (sequence): Finish your lunch, then you can go outside to play. / Than (comparison): Today's lunch was better than yesterday's.
• Then (order): Turn left at the corner, then drive straight for two miles. / Than (comparison): The left route is shorter than the right one.
• Then (past time): Back then, we had no phones, so we wrote letters instead. / Than (comparison): Writing letters is slower than sending a text.
• Then (result): If you save a little every month, then you will have enough by summer. / Than (comparison): Saving early is smarter than saving late.
• Then (sequence): She opened the door, then switched on the light. / Than (comparison): The hallway was darker than the living room.
• Then (past time): He worked as a waiter then, long before he became a chef. / Than (comparison): Cooking is harder than serving, he always says.
• Then (sequence): Add the sugar, then stir the mixture for two minutes. / Than (comparison): The cake is sweeter than the cookies.
• Then (result): If the test is easy, then everyone will finish early. / Than (comparison): The math section was easier than the reading section.
• Then (sequence): We watched the sunset, then walked back to the car. / Than (comparison): The walk back was longer than the walk there.
• Then (past time): We lived in a small flat then, with only one bedroom. / Than (comparison): Our new house is bigger than the old flat.

Common Mistakes

"She is taller then her brother." — Wrong. Two heights are being compared, so this needs "than." Correct: "She is taller than her brother."

"This phone is better then my old one." — Wrong. Better and worse are comparison words; comparisons always pair with "than." Correct: "This phone is better than my old one."

"Rather then argue, let's talk it over." — Wrong. The set phrase is "rather than." Correct: "Rather than argue, let's talk it over."

"First I called him, than I sent him a message." — Wrong. Two actions happened one after the other — the job of "then." Correct: "First I called him, then I sent him a message."

Trick to Remember

"Then" has an E, like timE and sequencE — it is about time.

"Than" has an A, like compArison and contrAst — it is about comparing.

Before you write either word, ask yourself one question: am I talking about when something happened, or am I comparing two things? If it is time or order, write "then." If it is a comparison, write "than."

Another quick check: "than" almost always sits next to comparing words like more, less, better, worse, bigger, or rather. If you see one of those nearby, "than" is almost certainly the right choice.

FAQs

Is it "more then" or "more than"?

It is "more than." The words more and less always pair with "than" because they compare amounts — "more then" is always wrong. For example: "He has more books than I do." The same rule covers "less than," "better than," and "worse than."

Can "then" start a sentence?

Yes. Starting a sentence with "then" is perfectly correct, especially when telling a story or listing steps: "Then he opened the door and walked in." It simply means "after that" or "at that time."

What about "rather then"?

That is a mistake. The correct phrase is "rather than" — it shows a preference between two options: "I would rather read than watch TV." Because "rather" expresses a choice between alternatives, it is a comparison, so it takes "than" every time.

Is "other then" correct?

No. The correct form is "other than," which means "except for": "Other than the rain, the trip was perfect."

Do "then" and "than" sound the same?

In fast, casual speech they can sound very similar, which is exactly why they get mixed up in writing. Pronounced carefully: "then" rhymes with "when," while "than" rhymes with "can." Because the spoken difference is so small, always check the meaning on the page.