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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/318062
Rated: 13+ · Book · Writing · #890221
A library featuring commonly committed errors of the English language.
#318062 added February 15, 2007 at 12:51pm
Restrictions: None
Than vs. Then
Than is a word that is used after a comparative adjective or adverb (such as “bigger” or “slowly”), and then is used when one is speaking of time, consequences, or a sequence of events, such as with an if-then statement. When I say to use “then” when dealing with time, that doesn’t mean that one should say, for example, “It’s later then I thought.” That’s primarily a comparison (between the actual and expected state of affairs), so use “than.”

Examples:

*Bullet* Religious extremist groups exhibit a holier-than-thou attitude.
*Bullet* If I take the bus to work, then I won’t have to worry about paying for parking.
*Bullet* The San Diego Chargers did better than I thought they would this year.
*Bullet* Everyone makes a mistake now and then.
*Bullet* Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
*Bullet* First I went to school, then to work, so I didn’t get home until 10:00 that night.
© Copyright 2007 St. Patrickraken (UN: kraken at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
St. Patrickraken has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/318062