Then vs Than - What’s the difference? When to use them?

• She was much thinner then than she is now.

Do you understand the “then” and “than” usage in the above statement? Got the meaning?

Of course, Then vs than is one of the confusing identical words in the English language. The word “then” means time or consequence or at that time and it works as an adjective, adverb, and noun whereas “than” works as a conjunction used to compare things or people. Absolutely, both are homophones that are pronounced the same way but have different meanings and spellings. 

He is taller than her or then her, which one is correct? Then or than? Yes, this is a comparison statement so, the answer is “than”. Then, where should the word “then” be used? This might be your question. But the answer is already in your question. For more clarification, read this “then vs than” article completely that includes then and than meaning, examples, phrases, and usage. 

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Then meaning

The word “then” can function as an adverb, adjective, noun, or conjunction and it indicates a specific time or moment in the past, present, or future. It conveys different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. 

If we take one real-time example,

• Let’s meet for lunch and then go to a movie.

In the above sentence, the word “then” is used to refer to the time when they go to a movie.

When to use “then”

                       

The word "then" can be used in a variety of situations to mean different things, depending on the context. Here are a few examples of when "then" might be used:

• To indicate a specific time - I'll meet you at the temple at 4 PM, and then we'll go shopping.
  
  
• To indicate a sequence of events - First, we'll sketch the outline, and then we go for the main picture.
  
  
• To indicate a cause or effect or impact - If you don't study well, then you'll not get a pass mark on this test. 
  
  
• To indicate an event after something else -  He will complete his homework and then go for dinner.

In summary, "then" is a word that can be used to denote a specific time, a sequence of events, or a cause-and-effect relationship. The proper usage will depend on the context and the message you want to express.

Examples for “then”

Get some perfect examples here for further clarification.

1. I took a bath first, and then I made breakfast.
   
   
2. He finished his assignments, then he watched a movie.
   
   
3. She went to the parlor, then she came back to the hostel.
   
   
4. We had a great time at the celebration, but then it got a little crowded.
   
   
5. Let’s practice one more time, then we’ll be ready for the performance.
   
   
6. They talked for a while and then they went for a walk. 

Common phrases for “then”

In this section, let’s have a look at some common phrases used in our daily lives. They are as follows,

• And then
  
  Meaning: It used to connect two events or actions that happen one after the other
  
  Example: She went to buy books, and then she took a bus to the bust stop. 
  
  
• Before then: 
  
  Meaning: It is indicating that something happened before a specific point in the past
  
  Example: I never liked potatoes, but before then I loved to eat potato chips.
  
  
• From then on 
  
  Meaning: It is indicating that something happens or happened continuously or regularly after a specific point in the past
  
  Example: She moved to her dream country last month, and from then on she was happy with her family.
  
  
• From then until now 
  
  Meaning: It is indicating the duration of an event from a specific point in the past to the present.
  
  Example: She started this business three years back, and from then until now she is working hard for her success. 

Than meaning

The word “than” works as a conjunction and it means comparison between things or people. It is commonly used in comparisons to indicate a difference or similarity between two or more things.

For example,

She earns more money than I do.

In this sentence, the speaker conveys that she is earning less money than the second person. So, here she is comparing her earnings with another person. 

When to use “than”

                         

The word "Than" is typically used in comparisons, where one thing is being considered in relation to another thing. It is used to introduce the second element of comparison, usually after an adjective or adverb of comparison like better, more, less, etc.

For example, 

• She is wiser than his brother

In the sentence, "wiser" is the adjective of comparison, and "than" is used to introduce the element of the comparison.

It is also to be noted that "Than" is only used in the comparison, if there is no comparison then you can not use "than".

Examples for “than”

Discover some example sentences using the word “than” for more clarification. They are as follows,

1. I like to go to the beach more than to restaurants.
   
   
2. She came earlier than I did.
   
   
3. This movie is better than I expected.
   
   
4. She is smarter than her sister.

Common phrases for “than”

There are many common phrases that use the word "than." Here are a few examples:

• better than - 
  
  Meaning: Comparison of superiority
  
  Example: The taste of chicken gravy is better than mutton.
  
  
• worse than 
  
  Meaning: Comparison of inferiority
  
  Example: Yesterday’s climate is worse than today’s
  
  
• other than 
  
  Meaning: with the exception of
  
  Example: I don’t want to eat anything other than dosa.
  
  
• rather than 
  
  Meaning: in preference to
  
  Example: I prefer to go to the beach rather than a movie.
  
  
• more than 
  
  Meaning: to a greater extent
  
  Example: I had more than enough money to buy this bag
  
  
• less than 
  
  Meaning: to a lesser extent 
  
  Example: Less than 30 people attended the last meeting
  
  
• other than 
  
  Meaning: excluding, aside from
  
  Example: She will not eat anything other than fruits.
  
  
• otherwise than 
  
  Meaning: in a different way or manner
  
  Example: She can't do otherwise than obey her mother's words.
  
  
• no less than 
  
  Meaning: used to indicate the extent of something is not less
  
  Example: He had no less than 5 cups of tea last night.

Other important topics

• Belief vs Believe
• Your and you're
• Affect vs effect
• Who vs whom
• Compliment vs complement
• Lose vs loose
• Its vs it's
• Principle vs principal

Conclusion

In the bottom line, the purpose of this "then vs than" blog is to educate readers on the correct usage of these two words. It is essential to use them correctly in order to effectively convey one's thoughts. So, be mindful of the context in which you are using them, and if you're ever unsure, take a moment to think about which word makes more sense in the sentence.