Difference between than and then

This is part of the difference between series.

Another common pair of words I see mixed up is “then” and “than”. Luckily, telling the difference is easy.

“Then” is always used in reference to a sequence of events, as in:

We went to the store, then we came home

“Than”, on the other hand, is used to compare things, as in:

My dad is stronger than your dad.

A trick to remembering them is “then” has an “e”, and “event” starts with an “e”.

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.