Grammar · Commonly confused words · A2 · Elementary

Then vs Than

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

Then relates to time or sequence, meaning 'next' or 'at that point': 'We had dinner, then watched a film.' Than introduces a comparison between two things: 'She is taller than her brother.' A simple test: if two things are being compared, use than; if the sentence is about order or time, use then.

Then vs than at a glance

	Then	Than
Function	Adverb of time or sequence — next, at that point	Conjunction/preposition of comparison
Used for	Ordering events, giving instructions, if-then logic	Comparing two things, people, or amounts
Typical partner words	first...then, and then, back then, since then	more/less...than, rather than, better/worse than
Example	We landed, then collected our bags.	Flying is faster than taking the train.
Spelling clue	Then has an 'e', like when (time)	Than has an 'a', like compare (comparison)

What's the difference between then and than?

Then is about time and sequence — it tells you what happens next, or refers back to a particular moment: 'First we checked in, then we found our seats.' Than has nothing to do with time; it is used only to compare two things: 'The flight was cheaper than expected.'

Because the words differ by only one letter and one vowel sound, they are frequently swapped in fast writing, but their jobs never overlap — one orders events, the other measures a difference.

We finished the exam, then went for coffee.(sequence — what happened next)
The exam was harder than we expected.(comparison between two difficulty levels)
The exam was harder then we expected.(→ comparison needs than)

How do you test which word you need?

Ask whether two things are being measured against each other. If yes — cheaper, better, faster, more, less, rather — the word is than. If the sentence is instead describing order, timing, or a consequence (if this, then that), the word is then.

A useful spelling clue: then shares its 'e' with when, both time words; than shares its 'a' with compare, both comparison words.

If it rains, then we'll move the event indoors.(if...then = logical sequence)
This route is shorter than the old one.(comparing two routes)
This route is shorter then the old one.(→ comparison needs than)

Fixed phrases with then and than

A handful of fixed phrases use one word consistently, and memorising them prevents most mistakes. 'Rather than', 'more than', 'less than', and 'other than' always take than. 'Back then', 'since then', 'and then', 'every now and then', and 'first...then' always take then.

Learning these chunks as whole units — instead of translating word by word — is often faster than learning the underlying grammar rule alone.

I'd rather walk than wait for the bus.('rather...than' is a fixed comparison phrase)
Back then, few people owned smartphones.('back then' is a fixed time phrase)
I'd rather walk then wait for the bus.(→ rather...than)

Common mistakes with then vs than

Real learner errors, corrected and explained — the fastest way to stop repeating them.

My sister is older then me.

My sister is older than me.

This compares two ages, so the comparison word than is needed, not the time word then.

We booked the tickets and than packed our bags.

We booked the tickets and then packed our bags.

This describes a sequence of actions, so the time word then is needed, not than.

Nothing is more important then good health.

Nothing is more important than good health.

'More important...' sets up a comparison, which always takes than.

If you finish early, than you can leave.

If you finish early, then you can leave.

'If...then' is a fixed logical sequence pattern that always uses the time word then.

Then vs Than in IELTS

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is 25% of your Speaking and Writing scores — here is where this structure earns marks.

Speaking

Comparative structures with than are a quick way to show grammatical range: 'Living in a big city is more stressful than living in a small town.' Getting than right in comparisons is an easy accuracy win.
Use then to sequence a story clearly in Part 2: 'I packed my bags, then called a taxi, and then headed to the airport' — clear time markers help examiners follow your narrative.

Writing

Task 2 opinion and comparison essays lean heavily on than: 'Public transport is more environmentally friendly than private cars.' Confusing it with then is a common but easily avoidable accuracy error.
In Task 1, then can sequence stages of a process: 'The raw material is heated, then cooled, and then packaged' — useful for process diagrams.

Practise then vs than now

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Check this rule in your own writing

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Paste a paragraph into the free IELTS Grammar Checker — it flags every then vs than mistake, explains the rule, and estimates your Grammatical Range & Accuracy band.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether to use then or than?

Check whether you are comparing two things. If so, use than: 'faster than', 'better than'. If the sentence is about time, order, or a logical result (if...then), use then instead. The two words never share the same job.

Is it 'rather than' or 'rather then'?

Rather than is correct, because the phrase compares two preferences: 'I'd rather walk than drive.' 'Rather then' is a common misspelling and is never correct in standard English.

What is a simple trick to remember then vs than?

Then has an 'e', like when — both are about time. Than has an 'a', like compare — both are about comparison. Matching the vowel to the related word is an easy way to check your spelling.

Can then and than ever be used interchangeably?

No. Even though they look similar and sound close, they have completely separate functions — then for time/sequence and than for comparison — so swapping one for the other always creates an error.

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