When I first came across the expressions “better than” and “better then,” I was a bit confused too. At first glance, they almost look like synonyms, but there’s a clear difference. “Better than” is the right choice when you’re making comparisons, while “better then” usually doesn’t fit in that place—unless you’re talking about time.
I remember a couple of times during college when I mixed them up in essays, and the professor underlined them in red. That correction gave me the answers I needed, and over a few paragraphs of feedback, I learned the correct usage.
To make this easier, let’s look at some examples. If I say, “This coffee is better than the one we had yesterday,” I’m making a clear comparison. But if I write, “This coffee is better then the one we had yesterday,” the sentence feels off—it sounds like I’m talking about sequence instead of quality. The first is natural, while the second takes the meaning away from what I want to say.
Over time, I’ve realized that keeping these small distinctions in mind helps my writing flow smoothly and avoids the kind of mistakes that once left me confused.
Why This Mix-Up Happens
It’s easy to see why people mix up then and than. Both are short, both end with “n,” and both appear in everyday English. Spell-checkers won’t always catch the mistake because both are valid words.
For example:
- “This phone is better then that one.”
- “This phone is better than that one.”
The first sentence is wrong but still “looks right” at a glance. The second one follows grammar rules. For students writing essays, teachers grading papers, or professionals drafting reports, getting this wrong can look sloppy.
So let’s break it down clearly.
Understanding the Root of the Confusion
The mix-up stems from three main reasons:
- Visual similarity: Both words are four letters long with “th” at the start and “n” at the end.
- Phonetic similarity: In fast speech, “then” and “than” can sound almost identical.
- Grammar awareness: Many people don’t realize that these two words belong to different categories of grammar.
Etymology note:
- Then comes from Old English þanne, used to indicate time.
- Than comes from Old English þonne, used in comparisons.
In modern English, their meanings split clearly: “then” is about time/sequence, “than” is about comparison.
Breaking Down the Word “Then”
Then is a versatile word. It often functions as an adverb, but can also serve as an adjective or noun in specific contexts.
Common Uses of Then
- Referring to time
- “Back then, people didn’t have smartphones.”
- “We’ll talk then.”
- Showing sequence
- “First wash your hands, then eat.”
- “He finished his exam, then left the room.”
- Showing result or outcome
- “If you’re tired, then take a break.”
- “If it rains, then the game will be canceled.”
Examples in Action
| Correct Usage of Then | Incorrect Usage of Then in Comparisons |
| “I’ll see you then.” | “She is better then him.” |
| “Back then, I was shy.” | “This laptop is faster then that one.” |
| “He studied, then slept.” | “She’s stronger then her brother.” |
Breaking Down the Word “Than”
Unlike then, the word than has one main role: to compare.
How Than Works
- Comparing adjectives and adverbs
- “She is taller than her brother.”
- “This exam was easier than the last one.”
- Comparisons in quantity
- “I’d rather have coffee than tea.”
- “He has more books than anyone I know.”
- Special expressions
- “Other than that, everything is fine.”
- “No sooner…than…”
Examples in Action
| Correct Usage of Than | Incorrect Usage of Than in Time |
| “He is smarter than me.” | “We’ll meet than.” |
| “This problem is harder than the last one.” | “I’ll call you than.” |
| “I’d rather sleep than watch TV.” | “Back than, people walked everywhere.” |
Why “Better Then” Is Incorrect
Comparisons in English require the word than. The word then cannot replace it because then refers to time or sequence, not comparison.
Examples:
- “She is better then him.”
- “She is better than him.”
- “This phone is faster then that one.”
- “This phone is faster than that one.”
Rule of thumb: Anytime you’re comparing two things, the correct choice is than, never then.
Practical Examples: Better Than in Action
Here’s how you’ll see better than in different contexts:
Academic Writing
- “This theory is better than the previous model.”
- “The new results are more accurate than the earlier study.”
Professional Writing
- “Her sales report is better than last quarter’s.”
- “This design performs better than the competitor’s version.”
Everyday Conversation
- “This pizza tastes better than the one we had yesterday.”
- “She runs better than most of her teammates.”
Common Expressions Using “Than”
Than appears in many idiomatic phrases.
- “No sooner…than” – “No sooner had we arrived than it started to rain.”
- “Other than” – “Other than that, the project looks good.”
- “Rather than” – “I’d prefer coffee rather than tea.”
- “More than meets the eye” – “The case was more complicated than meets the eye.”
These expressions all share one thing: they show comparison or contrast.
Common Expressions Using “Then”
Just like than, the word then appears in common phrases:
- “Back then” – “Back then, we didn’t have Wi-Fi.”
- “Every now and then” – “I check in on him every now and then.”
- “And then some” – “She gave 100% and then some.”
- “If…then” – “If you study hard, then you’ll pass.”
Notice that each phrase deals with time, sequence, or result—never comparison.
Memory Tricks to Remember the Difference
Confusing then and than is normal, but you can train your brain to spot the right one.
- Think: “Than = Comparison” → both words contain an “a.”
- Think: “Then = Time” → both words contain an “e.”
- Quick test: If you can replace the word with “in comparison with,” use than. If you can replace it with “at that time,” use then.
Example:
- “She is taller ___ him.” → “She is taller in comparison with him.”(than)
- “We’ll talk ___.” → “We’ll talk at that time.” (then)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even advanced writers sometimes mix them up.
Mistake 1: Using then in comparisons
- “This is more important then that.”
- “This is more important than that.”
Mistake 2: Using than for time
- “I’ll see you than.”
- “I’ll see you then.”
Quick Proofreading Tip
When editing your work, highlight every instance of then and than. Ask yourself: “Am I talking about comparison or time?” This simple check can eliminate most errors.
Correction Table
| Wrong Sentence | Correct Sentence |
| “He’s stronger then me.” | “He’s stronger than me.” |
| “I’ll call you than.” | “I’ll call you then.” |
| “She’s more confident then before.” | “She’s more confident than before.” |
Case Study: A Professional Miscommunication
A marketing team once sent out a campaign email that read:
“Our product is better then the competition.”
The typo made the company look careless. A competitor even highlighted the mistake on social media, calling their professionalism into question. Correcting the phrase to “better than the competition” not only fixed the grammar but also restored credibility.
For students, a mistake like this could cost marks. For professionals, it could cost reputation.
Conclusion
The key takeaway is simple: use better than when you want to compare things, and be careful not to replace it with better then, since that changes the meaning. Many people get confused, but once you understand the difference with clear examples, the answers fall into the right place.
Think of those small writing mistakes I once made in a couple of essays—one correction, and the misunderstanding went away.
FAQs
Q1: Why do people mix up “better than” and “better then”?
Because the expressions look similar, some assume they are synonyms, but they’re not.
Q2: When should I use “then”?
Use “then” to show time or sequence, not for comparisons.
Q3: Can “better then” ever be correct?
Yes, but only if you mean “better at that time.” For example: “The weather was better then.”
Q4: What’s the fastest way to remember the difference?
Ask yourself: Am I comparing? If yes, always use “than.”
Q5: Can you give more examples?
Sure:
- Correct: “This book is better than that one.”
- Incorrect: “This book is better then that one.”
