Then or than — the one‑letter difference that changes your meaning

Most grammar details don’t matter. This one does.

A client sent me a report last month. Seven times she wrote ‘then’ when she meant ‘than‘. She hadn’t noticed a single one – and neither had the colleague who checked it.

The difference is small but real.

Then is about time – what comes next.

Than is about comparison – what is more, less, better, worse.

Quick win:

Comparing two things? It’s than. “Better than expected.” “More than enough.”

Describing what comes next? It’s then. “First the call, then the email.”