Than vs. Then

Than (conjunction)

Because; for.

Than (conjunction)

Used in comparisons, to introduce the basis of comparison.

“she’s taller than I am;”

“she found his advice more witty than helpful;”

“we have less work today than we had yesterday;”

“it’s bigger than I thought it was”

Than (preposition)

introduces a comparison, and is associated with comparatives, and with words such as more, less, and fewer. Typically, it seeks to measure the force of an adjective or similar description between two predicates.

“Patients diagnosed more recently are probably surviving an average of longer than two years.”

Than (adverb)

At that time; then.

Then (adverb)

At that time.

“He was happy then.”

Then (adverb)

Soon afterward.

“He fixed it, then left.”

“Turn left, then right, then right again, then keep going until you reach the service station.”

Then (adverb)

Next in order; in addition.

“There are three green ones, then a blue one.”

Then (adverb)

In that case.

“If it’s locked, then we’ll need the key.”

“Is it 12 o’clock already? Then it’s time for me to leave.”

“You don’t like potatoes? What do you want me to cook, then?”

Then (adverb)

At the same time; on the other hand.

“That’s a nice shirt, but then, so is the other one.”

Then (adverb)

Used to contradict an assertion.

Then (adjective)

Being so at that time.

Then (noun)

That time

“It will be finished before then.”

Then (conjunction)

obsolete spelling of than

Than (conjunction)

introducing the second element in a comparison

“Jack doesn’t know any more than I do”

“he was much smaller than his son”

Than (conjunction)

used in expressions introducing an exception or contrast

“he claims not to own anything other than his home”

“they observe rather than act”

Than (conjunction)

used in expressions indicating one thing happening immediately after another

“scarcely was the work completed than it was abandoned”

Than (preposition)

introducing the second element in a comparison

“Jack doesn’t know any more than I do”

“he was much smaller than his son”

Than (preposition)

used in expressions introducing an exception or contrast

“they observe rather than act”

“he claims not to own anything other than his home”

Than (preposition)

used in expressions indicating one thing happening immediately after another

“scarcely was the work completed than it was abandoned”

Then (adverb)

at that time; at the time in question

“he accepted a peerage from the then Prime Minister, Edward Heath”

“Phoebe by then was exhausted”

“I was living in Cairo then”

Then (adverb)

after that; next; afterwards

“she won the first and then the second game”

Then (adverb)

also; in addition

“I’m paid a generous salary, and then there’s the money I’ve made at the races”

Then (adverb)

in that case; therefore

“if you do what I tell you, then there’s nothing to worry about”

“well, that’s okay then”

Then (adverb)

used at the end of a sentence to emphasize an inference being drawn

“so you’re still here then”

Then (adverb)

used to finish off a conversation

“see you in an hour then”