Grammarama

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:

Religious extremist groups exhibit a holier-than-thou attitude.
If I take the bus to work, then I won’t have to worry about paying for parking.
The San Diego Chargers did better than I thought they would this year.
Everyone makes a mistake now and then.
Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
First I went to school, then to work, so I didn’t get home until 10:00 that night.