1. Mini-Lesson #60 From the UWF Writing Lab’s 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series Diction: Then versus Than

2. What’s the difference? Than is a subordinating conjunction used in making comparisons. Then is an adverb of time or a conjunctive adverb meaning “consequently” or “therefore.”

3. Examples at Work Ima Goodwriter is a better writer than I. The cashier rang up our sale; then he gave us our change.

4. Here’s another one… The beauty contestant who was more beautiful (then/than) the other girls was a male. First, I went to the grocery story; ( then/than) I went to the cyber cafe.

5. Last Time… John Madden says that Miller Lite has fewer calories and is less filling (then/than) other beers. If Ashley wants the camera, ( then/than) she needs to ask for it.

6. One Final Note… When spoken rapidly and without stress, than and then sound similar, so careless writers tend to confuse these two words.