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Then vs than

Than compares things. Then tells you when.

than

conjunction for comparisons

Test: Is something being compared (more, less, -er, rather, other)?

She is taller than me.
I’d rather walk than drive.

then

adverb of time or sequence; also “in that case”

Test: Can you swap in “next”, “at that time” or “in that case”?

We ate, then went home.
If it rains, then we’ll stay in.

thAn goes with compArison; thEn goes with timE.

Test yourself

Five sentences. Apply the test above to each one before you pick.

This laptop is faster _____ my old one.
Finish your homework, _____ you can play.
I’d rather stay home _____ go out.
Back _____, phones had cords.
It cost more _____ we expected.

Pick an answer for each sentence.

“Other than”, “rather than”, “no sooner … than”

These fixed phrases always use “than” because they compare: “anyone other than you”, “walk rather than drive”, “no sooner had we arrived than it started to rain”.

Than I or than me?

Both are accepted. “She is taller than I” (short for “than I am”) is traditional and formal; “She is taller than me” is standard in everyday speech and writing, as Merriam-Webster and most modern usage guides note.

Catch it automatically

The grammar checker flags common mix-ups like this one by looking at the words around them, and the sentence checker can explain any sentence you’re unsure about.

Questions people ask

Is it “more then” or “more than”?

“More than.” Comparisons always use “than”.

Does TextCheck catch then/than mistakes?

Yes. The grammar checker flags “then” after comparison words such as more, less, better and rather.

Other grammar guides

Affect vs effectAffect is usually the verb. Effect is usually the noun.Its vs it’sIt’s = it is / it has. Its = belonging to it.Your vs you’reYou’re = you are. Your = belonging to you.Their, there and they’reTheir = belonging to them. There = place / “there is”. They’re = they are.Advice vs adviseAdvice is the noun (rhymes with “nice”). Advise is the verb (rhymes with “prize”).Whose vs who’sWho’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.Principal vs principlePrinciple = a rule or belief. Principal = main, a head person, or a loan amount.Lose vs looseLose = misplace or not win (rhymes with “shoes”). Loose = not tight (rhymes with “goose”).Who vs whomWho does the action (he). Whom receives it (him).I.e. vs e.g.E.g. = for example (some of many). I.e. = that is (the exact thing).Farther vs furtherFarther = physical distance. Further = degree, time or “more”.Everyday vs every dayEveryday = ordinary (an adjective). Every day = each day.Complement vs complimentCompliment = praise. Complement = something that completes or suits.Into vs in toInto = movement inside or a change. In to = “in” (part of a verb) + “to”.Lay vs lieYou lay something down. You lie down yourself.Fewer vs lessFewer for countable things. Less for uncountable amounts.Accept vs exceptAccept = receive or agree to. Except = apart from.To, too and twoTo = direction or verb marker. Too = also / excessively. Two = 2.