These two words are often confused because they sound almost identical, but they have completely different jobs in a sentence. The easiest way to remember the difference is: Than is for Comparing, and Then is for Time.
1. Than (Comparison)
Use than when you are comparing two or more things, people, or amounts.
Size: A house is bigger than an apartment.
Preference: I would rather have tea than coffee.
Quantity: There were more people than I expected.
Memory Trick: Both thAn and compArison have the letter A.
2. Then (Time and Sequence)
Use then when you are talking about time, the order of events, or a result ("If... then").
Sequence: First, we eat dinner; then, we watch a movie.
Past Time: Back then, nobody had a smartphone.
Result: If it rains today, then we will stay inside.
Memory Trick: Both thEn and timE have the letter E.
Quick Comparison Table
| Word Type | Primary Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Than | Comparison | "She is taller than her brother." |
| Then | Time/Sequence | "We went to the park, and then we went home." |
Common Mistake: "Better than" vs. "Better then"
This is the most frequent error. Since you are comparing a current state to a previous one, you must use than.
Incorrect: "It’s better then it used to be."
Correct: "It’s better than it used to be."