Word Differences
Then vs. Than: A Simple Way to Remember the Difference
Learn when to use then and than, with clear rules, comparison examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
By Vocabaura Editorial · Published 5 August 2026 · 5 min read
Quick answer
Than is used for comparisons (bigger than, more than), while then is used for time and sequence (first this, then that). If you’re comparing two things, you need than.
Then and than differ by a single vowel, and that tiny difference is why they get typed for each other so often. But their jobs in a sentence are entirely separate: one deals with time, the other with comparison.
Quick Answer
Use than whenever you’re comparing two things: “faster than,” “more than,” “rather than.” Use then whenever you’re talking about time, sequence, or consequence: “we ate, then left,” “if it rains, then we’ll stay in.”
Definitions
Than is a conjunction used exclusively in comparisons. It links two things being measured against each other: “taller than,” “easier than,” “more expensive than.” It never appears outside a comparison.
Then is an adverb tied to time. It can mean “at that time” (“back then, prices were lower”), “next in sequence” (“mix the eggs, then add the flour”), or “as a consequence” (“if you’re tired, then rest”).
The Key Difference
Ask yourself whether the sentence is comparing two things or describing a sequence of events. Comparisons — anything involving “more,” “less,” “rather,” or an -er adjective like “faster” or “bigger” — always take than. Everything involving order, timing, or if/then logic takes then.
Comparison
This route is shorter than the highway.
Sequence
We finished dinner, then watched a movie.
Consequence
If the store is closed, then we’ll try again tomorrow.
Preference comparison
I would rather walk than wait for the bus.
| Than | Then | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Conjunction for comparison | Adverb for time/sequence |
| Common companions | more, less, rather, -er words | first, next, if, back |
| Example | better than expected | we’ll leave then |
| Can you swap in “next”? | No | Often, yes |
Common Mistakes
- Writing “more then enough” instead of “more than enough.”
- Writing “first we ate, than we left” instead of “first we ate, then we left.”
- Assuming they’re interchangeable because they look similar — they never are.
- Missing the mistake in a comparison because “then” still reads as a plausible word, just the wrong one.
Memory Trick
Than shares its A with “comparison” — both have that flat “a” sound tying the words together in your memory. Then shares its E with “sequence” and “when,” both about time. If you're comparing, grab the A word.