For instance, you might know someone who wants wine rather than a martini. The correct term is rather than since rather is used to show preference in a specific matter. The correct phrase is later than if you want to show a comparison between two late items, people, or events. For example, you might arrive at school earlier than usual. The more common phrase you might be looking for is earlier than.
My mother told me that a curious person is better than a know-it-all.īoth phrases are correct but have different meanings. Use it to introduce the second item or person to make direct comparisons.įor instance, when you say “truth is stranger than fiction,” it means that real events are more unnatural than imagination. Than is the conjunction that expresses a form of comparison in a sentence. Making an unequal comparison requires using a particular word in the English language. If you had taken care of the cat, then we wouldn’t be in this situation. The then president visited our small town.Īside from using then in terms of time, you can also use it to show consequence or mean in that case. Here are some sentences that use then relating to a previous time. 
Some English speakers use the term if they can’t recall the exact time of an event in the past. Then, I’ll have lunch, go to Math class, and go home.
My first subject is Chemistry, then French, then Science. Here’s a longer, multilayered example of then relating to the future.
Let’s buy ice cream and then watch a movie. This adverb helps you place events in time in order, such as when relating to a future time. You can use then as an adverb to replace at that time in question to make grammatical sense. Homophones are words that show an essential difference in spelling but similarities in sound. That’s why the two words are now homophones people get confused with. However, modern writing now treats them differently. People used them to show relationships with time and for comparison purposes. In Middle English, then and than used to be the same word used for all their meanings. You’ll find this word after terms like other, less, more, and rather. Use than in common phrases like better than, further than, taller than, or broader than. You’ll find it in phrases like since then and until then to show a reference of time. In the English language, then means at that time, at that point, or next. Use then in writing or events when there is an element of time. 
Meanwhile, than is a conjunction used when comparing two items or people. Then is an adverb, noun, or adjective that indicates a previous time. Learn when to use the two words in the sentence before the self-anointed grammar policemen point out your grammar error. This guide will show you nuanced differences between then vs.
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