"Than" and "Then"..?

haha, I feel so stupid.... but what is the correct way to use these two?

 

The simple rule: when in doubt, use "than".

I think "then" is only used when you're talking about time:
"Grammar was much simpler then."

But if you're making a comparison, it's always "than":
"Grammar was much simpler then than now."

Oh wait, I forgot the case when you use "then" as a conditional conjunction:
"If grammar was much simpler then than now, then what the hell?"

Confoozing enuff?

 

Haha, that's what I thought... thanks a lot !

 

whatt?? i'd say..then..is as in..it happened then...or then it happened...then they....by then it was....

and than as in, rather than... better than...more than..worse than..

 

"Then" indicates something to do with time. "Than" usually means something to do with comparing two things.

If English isn't your first language I guess it could be confusing. Or is it an accent thing, like when people say "could of" instead of "could have"?

 

Let me sum up Spaceduck's principle.

Then = TIME. Past, Present Future. "And THEN I would like to..."
Than = Choice. "I would RATHER do this THAN that!

 

"Then" can also refer to circumstances: if this, then that.

One quick tip... when in doubt about spelling/grammar/usage...

I :heart: dictionary.com. I keep it open in one tab at all times.

 

I love Dictionary.com - and I love Tabs...since you do have the option of keeping it open all the time. lol