Then vs. Than: Difference, Examples, and an Easy Rule

Use then for time, order, or a result. Use than for comparisons.

We ate dinner and then watched a movie.
The movie was longer than I expected.

The easiest rule is: then = time; than = comparison.

Then vs. than at a glance

Word	Main job	Meaning	Example
then	usually an adverb	at that time, next, or as a result	Finish your work, then call me.
than	conjunction or preposition	introduces a comparison	This route is shorter than the other one.

If the sentence answers when, what happened next, or what follows as a result, choose then. If it compares two people, things, amounts, or actions, choose than.

When to use then

Then meaning “at that time”

Use then to refer to a particular time in the past or future.

I lived in Chicago then.
The office was much smaller back then.
By then, the meeting had already ended.
We did not know the answer then.

In these examples, then points to a time.

Then meaning “next”

Use then to show the order of actions or events.

Wash the vegetables, then cut them into small pieces.
She reviewed the report and then sent it to her manager.
First create an account; then confirm your email address.
We stopped for gas, then continued north.

If you could replace the word with next or after that, then is correct.

Then meaning “in that case” or “as a result”

Then can introduce a conclusion, consequence, or result.

If the road is closed, then we will take the highway.
If you agree with the terms, then sign below.
There is no further discussion? Then the meeting is over.
If the price includes delivery, then the offer is reasonable.

In many if–then sentences, then can be omitted without changing the basic meaning:

If it rains, then we will stay inside.
If it rains, we will stay inside.

Both are grammatical. Including then can make the result or logical connection more explicit.

Then as an adjective

Before a noun, then can mean holding a position or having a status at that time.

The then mayor supported the proposal.
Her then employer offered flexible hours.
The company’s then director approved the expansion.

This use is common in news, history, and formal writing.

Then as a noun

Then can occasionally function like a noun in phrases referring to a time.

We have not spoken since then.
The project should be complete before then.
From then on, the process became easier.

Common phrases with then

and then
back then
by then
since then
before then
from then on
then and now
every now and then
if … then

Example: We moved in 2020 and have lived here since then.

When to use than

Use than when comparing one person, thing, quality, amount, or action with another.

Than after comparative words

Comparative adjectives and adverbs commonly use than.

This room is brighter than the hallway.
She arrived earlier than expected.
The second test was more difficult than the first.
He speaks more quietly than his brother.
Today feels colder than yesterday.

Words such as more, less, better, worse, taller, smaller, and faster often signal that than is needed.

Than with amounts and numbers

The repair cost less than $100.
More than 200 people attended.
The package weighs no more than five pounds.
Please arrive no later than 8:30 a.m.

These sentences compare an amount, number, weight, or time with a limit.

Rather than

Use rather than to show preference or an alternative.

I would walk rather than wait for another bus.
She chose tea rather than coffee.
The team fixed the existing system rather than replacing it.

Other than

Other than means except for or different from.

I have no plans other than finishing this report.
No one other than Maya knew the password.
The results were different than we expected.

In American English, different from is widely useful in all contexts, while different than is also established, especially before a clause: “The results were different than we expected.”

Common phrases with than

more than
less than
better than
rather than
other than
no later than
no more than
than expected

Example: The assignment took longer than expected.

How to remember then and than

Match the vowels:

then = time or next
than = comparison

You can also test the sentence:

Can I replace it with next or at that time? Use then.
Am I comparing two things? Use than.

More then or more than?

The standard phrase is more than because it makes a comparison.

More than 50 people applied.
I expected more than a brief apology.
The trip took more than three hours.

More then can occur only when then separately refers to time or sequence, which is unusual:

We needed more supplies then than we do now.

Here, then means at that time, while the second than introduces the comparison.

Better then or better than?

Use better than when comparing:

This option is better than the original plan.
She performed better than expected.

Use better, then only when then means in that case, usually with punctuation:

You are feeling better, then?

That structure is much less common.

Other than or other then?

Use other than to mean except for or apart from.

Other than one typo, the document is ready.
I do not need anything other than a receipt.

Other then is not the correct phrase for an exception.

Common mistakes

Incorrect: She is taller then I am.

Correct: She is taller than I am.

The sentence compares two people.

Incorrect: Finish the form, than submit it.

Correct: Finish the form, then submit it.

The sentence shows the order of actions.

Incorrect: The fee is more then $20.

Correct: The fee is more than $20.

The sentence compares the fee with an amount.

Incorrect: If you are ready, than we can begin.

Correct: If you are ready, then we can begin.

Then introduces the result of the condition.

Then vs. than examples by context

Work

Review the figures, then send the spreadsheet.
Revenue was higher than last quarter.
If the client approves, then production can begin.

School

Read the chapter and then answer the questions.
The final exam was easier than the midterm.
Students now have more resources than they did back then.

Travel

We checked in and then went through security.
The train was faster than the bus.
If our flight is delayed, then we will call the hotel.

Everyday situations

Heat the soup, then add the herbs.
This phone is less expensive than that one.
I was busier then than I am now.

Quick practice quiz

Choose then or than.

This book is shorter ___ the first one.
Finish your homework, ___ you can play outside.
More ___ 100 guests attended the event.
We lived near the beach back ___.
I would call ___ send a long email.
If the store is closed, ___ we will return tomorrow.
The task took longer ___ expected.
She packed her bag and ___ called a taxi.

Answers

than — compares two books
then — shows what happens next
than — compares the number with 100
then — refers to a time in the past
than — part of the phrase would rather … than
then — introduces the result
than — part of a comparison
then — shows the order of actions

The same context-first habit also helps with Advice vs. Advise and Accept vs. Except. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the Commonly Confused Words archive as the category grows.

Frequently asked questions

How can I easily remember then vs. than?

Remember then = time and than = comparison. The matching letters can help: then relates to time, while than relates to comparison.

Is it “rather then” or “rather than”?

The correct phrase is rather than because it compares alternatives or expresses a preference.

Is it “less then” or “less than”?

Use less than. The phrase compares an amount or degree with another amount or limit.

Is it “no later then” or “no later than”?

Use no later than because the phrase compares a time with a deadline.

Do you need then in an if–then sentence?

Not always. “If you call, I will answer” and “If you call, then I will answer” are both grammatical. Then emphasizes the result or logical consequence.

The bottom line

Use then for time, sequence, or results. Use than for comparisons.

We finished the meeting and then went to lunch.
Lunch was cheaper than we expected.

For more commonly confused words, see affect vs. effect, accept vs. except, and our upcoming guide to advice vs. advise.