Then vs Than: Difference, Meaning & Examples

Then and than are two commonly confused words in English. They look and sound similar, but they have completely different meanings and uses.

The simplest way to remember the difference is this: then is usually related to time, order, or what happens next, while than is used to make comparisons.

For example:

• We finished dinner, then watched a movie.

• My car is faster than yours.

In the first sentence, then shows what happened next. In the second sentence, than compares two things.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between then and than, when to use each word, common mistakes to avoid, and plenty of examples to help you use them correctly.

Then vs Than: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between then and than is their purpose in a sentence.

Then = Time or Sequence

Use then when talking about when something happened, what happened next, or the order of events.

Example:
We went to the store and then returned home.

Here, then tells us what happened next.

Than = Comparison

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

Example:
This test was easier than the last one.

Here, than connects the two things being compared.

Quick Way to Remember Then vs Than

A simple spelling trick can help:

• ThEn relates to timE — both contain the letter E.

• ThAn relates to compArison — both contain the letter A.

Remember:

Then = time or what happens next.
Than = comparison.

Once you remember this basic distinction, choosing between then and than becomes much easier.

What Does Then Mean?

Then is most commonly used to talk about time, sequence, or what happens next. It can also describe a result or refer to a particular time in the past or future.

In many sentences, then answers questions such as when?, what happened next?, or what happens as a result?

1. Then for Time

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

Examples:

• I lived in London back then.

• Things were very different then.

• By then, everyone had gone home.

• The new office should be ready by then.

In these examples, then refers to a specific period or point in time.

2. Then for a Sequence of Events

Then is often used to show that one action happens after another. This is one of its most common uses.

Examples:

• First, wash the vegetables. Then, cut them into small pieces.

• We ate breakfast and then went for a walk.

• She finished her work, then called her friend.

• Turn left at the traffic light, then continue straight.

Here, then helps show the order in which things happen.

3. Then for a Result or Consequence

Then can also introduce a result, consequence, or conclusion. It frequently appears in sentences using if.

Examples:

• If you are tired, then get some rest.

• If it rains, then we will stay inside.

• If you study regularly, then you are more likely to improve.

• If that is true, then we need to change our plan.

In these sentences, then introduces what happens as a result of the condition.

4. Then Meaning “In That Case”

Sometimes then means “in that case” or introduces a conclusion based on what has just been said.

Examples:

• “I can’t come on Friday.” “Let’s meet on Saturday, then.”

• If nobody has any questions, then we can continue.

• You already know the answer, then.

• So, what should we do then?

This use is common in everyday conversations.

Examples of Then in Sentences

Here are some additional examples showing the different ways then can be used:

• I was much younger then.

• Finish your dinner, then you can have dessert.

• We visited the museum and then had lunch.

• If you agree, then sign your name here.

• She worked there until 2024 and moved abroad after then.

• Back then, smartphones were not as common.

• First read the instructions, then answer the questions.

• If the bus is late, then we can take a taxi.

Common Expressions with Then

You may also see then in several common English expressions:

• back then — at a particular time in the past

• by then — before or at a particular time

• until then — up to a particular time

• now and then — occasionally

• every now and then — occasionally

• then and there — immediately, at that exact place and time

Examples:

• Back then, we didn’t have the internet at home.

• I’ll finish the project on Friday. Until then, I’ll keep you updated.

• We go out for dinner every now and then.

• She decided then and there to accept the offer.

The key idea is that then usually has some connection with time, order, sequence, or result. If you are comparing two things, however, you will normally need than, which we’ll look at next.

What Does Than Mean?

Than is mainly used to make comparisons. It connects two people, things, actions, amounts, or ideas when we want to show how they are different.

Unlike then, which usually relates to time or sequence, than has nothing to do with what happens next.

1. Than with Comparative Adjectives

One of the most common uses of than is after comparative adjectives such as bigger, smaller, faster, better, and more interesting.

Examples:

• Sarah is taller than her sister.

• This bag is cheaper than that one.

• Today is warmer than yesterday.

• The second book was more interesting than the first.

• Learning vocabulary is easier than I expected.

The word than introduces the second part of the comparison.

2. Than with Comparative Adverbs

We can also use than when comparing how actions are performed.

Examples:

• She speaks more clearly than I do.

• James arrived earlier than expected.

• He runs faster than his brother.

• You completed the task more quickly than I did.

Here, than helps compare two actions or the way those actions are performed.

3. Than with More, Less, and Fewer

Than commonly follows words such as more, less, and fewer when comparing quantities or amounts.

Examples:

• She has more experience than I do.

• We spent less money than expected.

• There were fewer people than yesterday.

• This project requires more time than the previous one.

• He drinks less coffee than his coworkers.

4. Than with Other, Rather, and Different

You may also see than in expressions involving words such as other and rather.

Examples:

• I would rather walk than drive.

• There was no option other than waiting.

• She would rather read than watch television.

• We had no choice other than to cancel the trip.

Note: With different, usage varies. Different from is widely used and is often the safest choice in formal writing. Different than is also used, particularly in American English, especially when it introduces a clause.

Examples of Than in Sentences

Here are more examples showing how than is used:

• My new apartment is bigger than my old one.

• She is younger than her husband.

• This exercise is more difficult than the previous one.

• The train arrived later than expected.

• He has fewer responsibilities than before.

• I would rather stay home than go out tonight.

• The movie was better than I expected.

• You speak English more confidently than you did last year.

Common Expressions with Than

Than also appears in several common expressions:

• more than — greater in number, amount, or degree

• less than — smaller in amount or degree

• rather than — instead of

• other than — except for or apart from

• better than — superior to

• worse than — inferior to

Examples:

• More than 100 people attended the event.

• The journey took less than an hour.

• I decided to walk rather than take the bus.

• Other than one small mistake, your answer was correct.

The easiest rule to remember is simple: use than when making a comparison. If you are talking about time, order, or what happens next, you probably need then instead.

Then vs Than Examples

The easiest way to understand the difference between then and than is to compare them in context.

Remember:

• Then = time, sequence, or what happens next

• Than = comparison

Then vs Than in Sentences

Sentences Using Both Then and Than

A sentence can contain both then and than because the two words perform different jobs.

• I was busier then than I am now.

• She was more confident then than she is today.

• Prices were lower then than they are now.

• He was much younger then than he is now.

• Life was different then than it is today.

Consider this example:

Prices were lower then than they are now.

Here:

• then refers to a particular time in the past.

• than introduces the comparison between prices in the past and prices now.

Although seeing then than together may look unusual, it can be completely correct.

How to Remember Then vs Than

If you often confuse then and than, use these simple memory tricks.

Remember the Letter E in Then

Then contains the letter e, and so does time.

Think:

thEn → timE

This can remind you that then often relates to time or sequence.

Example:

First we studied, then we took the test.

Remember the Letter A in Than

Than contains the letter a, and so does comparison.

Think:

thAn → compArison

Use than when comparing people, objects, amounts, actions, or ideas.

Example:

This test is easier than the previous one.

Ask Yourself One Question

When you are unsure which word to use, ask:

Am I making a comparison?

If the answer is yes, use than.

If you are talking about time, order, sequence, or what happens next, use then.

For example:

• She is taller than me. → comparison

• She finished work, then went home. → sequence

A quick rule to remember is:

Comparison = than. Time or next = then.