English learners everywhere know the pain: you type “better then,” and suddenly the grammar police are at your door. 🚨 Why? Because then and than are two very different words—even though they’re just one letter apart.
Let’s break it down once and for all (and have some fun along the way).
Then: The Time Traveler
Then is all about time or sequence. Think of it as your storyteller’s best friend.
- First we ate tacos, then we had dessert. 🌮🍦
- If you’re free later, then we should hang out.
- She studied hard, and then she passed the test. 🎉
👉 Memory trick: If it answers “when?” or “what happens next?” → it’s then.
Than: The Comparison Champ
Than is used when you’re comparing two things.
- My dog runs faster than my neighbor’s cat. 🐕💨🐈
- This book is more exciting than the movie.
- I’d rather have pizza than salad (no contest). 🍕
👉 Memory trick: If you’re sizing things up, it’s than.
Classroom Activity
Provide a side-by-side “meme caption” (She’s taller then me.). Students vote on the correct version and explain why in the comments.
CCSS
L.4.1g (Confused words).
Final Thought
These two words may be close in spelling, but their jobs couldn’t be more different:
- Then = time/sequence
- Than = comparison
So the next time you’re writing, pause for just a second:
- Are you talking about when something happened? → Use then.
- Are you comparing two things? → Use than.
Master this tiny trick, and you’ll be sharper than most writers out there. 😉
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