Is It Then or Than? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule

Then means at that time, next, or as a result. Than means used for comparison. The easiest way to choose the correct word is to read the whole sentence and ask which meaning actually fits.

Finish your homework, then call me.
She is taller than her brother.

These two words are commonly confused because they look similar, sound similar, or appear in the same everyday writing situations. They are not interchangeable. Use then when the sentence means at that time, next, or as a result. Use than when the sentence means used for comparison.

Then vs. Than at a glance

Word	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
then	adverb	at that time, next, or as a result	Finish your homework, then call me.
than	conjunction/preposition	used for comparison	She is taller than her brother.

Quick rule:

Then = at that time, next, or as a result.
Than = used for comparison.
If the meaning does not fit, switch to the other word.

When to use then

Use then when your sentence is about at that time, next, or as a result. This word is correct only when that idea is what you want the reader to understand.

Examples:

Finish your homework, then call me.
The sentence uses then because it means at that time, next, or as a result.
A reader would expect then in this context.
Replacing it with than would change the meaning.

A good editing habit is to replace the word with its definition. If the sentence still makes sense, the word is probably correct. If the sentence becomes odd, choose the other word.

When to use than

Use than when your sentence is about used for comparison. Even when it looks or sounds close to then, it gives the reader a different idea.

Examples:

She is taller than her brother.
The sentence uses than because it means used for comparison.
In this context, then would be inaccurate.
Careful writers choose by meaning, not by habit.

This difference matters in emails, essays, resumes, business writing, and classroom work. A small word-choice error can make a clear sentence look careless.

The easiest memory trick

Then is about time or sequence. Than is for comparison.

You can also ask:

> Is the sentence about at that time, next, or as a result, or is it about used for comparison?

If the first meaning fits, choose then. If the second meaning fits, choose than.

Common phrases with then

back then
then again
and then
then what

Examples:

The phrase back then uses then because it connects to at that time, next, or as a result.
The phrase then again follows the same meaning pattern.
Memorizing common phrases helps you write faster and make fewer mistakes.

Common phrases with than

more than
less than
better than
rather than

Examples:

The phrase more than uses than because it connects to used for comparison.
The phrase less than is another common use.
If the phrase looks wrong, check the meaning before changing the spelling.

Common mistakes and corrections

Incorrect	Correct	Why
Finish your homework, than call me.	Finish your homework, then call me.	The sentence needs then because it means at that time, next, or as a result.
She is taller then her brother.	She is taller than her brother.	The sentence needs than because it means used for comparison.

More corrections:

Incorrect: I chose the word because it sounded right.
Correct: I chose the word because the meaning matched the sentence.
Incorrect: I treated both words as interchangeable.
Correct: I kept then and than separate.

The same meaning-first habit helps with related guides across the Commonly Confused Words archive.

More example sentences

Examples with then:

Finish your homework, then call me.
The editor chose then because it matched the intended meaning.
In this sentence, then is clear and natural.
The sentence would change meaning with than.

Examples with than:

She is taller than her brother.
The teacher accepted the sentence because than was accurate.
In this context, than cannot be replaced by then.
The word choice tells the reader exactly what you mean.

Why this difference matters

Small word-choice errors can distract readers. In casual writing, people may still understand you. In formal writing, the wrong word can reduce trust, especially when the sentence is short and the mistake is easy to notice.

The best fix is simple: slow down, define the word in plain English, and choose the spelling that matches the meaning. That habit works for then and than, and it also works for many other confusing English words.

Extra editing check

Before you publish or submit important writing, test the word in a complete sentence. If the definition does not fit naturally, switch to the other word. This quick check helps with emails, school assignments, forms, articles, and professional documents.

Quick quiz

Choose the correct word.

Finish your homework, _____ call me.
She is taller _____ her brother.
Which word means at that time, next, or as a result: then or than?
Which word means used for comparison: then or than?

Answers:

then
than
then
than

FAQ

Is then the same as than?

No. then means at that time, next, or as a result, while than means used for comparison. They should not be used as substitutes.

How do I remember then vs. than?

Use the meaning test. Ask what the sentence is actually saying, then choose the word that matches that meaning.

Which word is more common?

It depends on the topic. Frequency is less important than accuracy. The correct word is the one that fits the sentence.

Can these words appear in formal writing?

Yes. Both words can appear in formal writing when used correctly. The important part is choosing the one that fits the sentence.

Final tip

Do not choose between then and than by sound or spelling memory alone. If the sentence means at that time, next, or as a result, use then. If it means used for comparison, use than.