Then and Than
Then is about time, what happens next; than is for comparing two things.
Usually taught in 5th grade · these two sound different but are confused in writing
Practice this pair
SpellCrush practice reads each word aloud, uses it in a spoken example sentence, and then asks your child to spell it — with instant feedback and a hint if they get stuck.
Two honest caveats. Practice is word-by-word: there is no mode yet that shows a sentence with a gap and asks which spelling fits, which is the format homophones really want. And the no-signup session runs a fixed set of sample words rather than the words on this page. Read the sentences below together first, then practice the spellings.
Then and Than at a glance
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| then | next, or at that time | We ate dinner, then we did the dishes. |
| than | the word used when comparing two things | This box is heavier than the other one. |
The memory trick
Match the vowel to the job. Then goes with when and time, all spelled with an e. Than goes with compare, which has an a in it. If next fits, use then. If compared with fits, use than.
Sentences that only work with one of them
Homophones are meaningless on their own, so learn them in sentences. Read each line aloud with your child, then cover the word and ask which spelling belongs there.
- We ate dinner, then we did the dishes.
- Back then, the shop sold bicycles.
- This box is heavier than the other one.
- She would rather walk than wait for the bus.
Fill in the blank
Same sentences, word removed. Answers are underneath each one, so cover the page with a hand or a sheet of paper.
We ate dinner, ______ we did the dishes.
Answer: then
Back ______, the shop sold bicycles.
Answer: then
This box is heavier ______ the other one.
Answer: than
She would rather walk ______ wait for the bus.
Answer: than
Where this fits in the year
Then and Than normally comes up in 5th grade spelling. That page has the full word list for the year, with audio, so you can see what else is expected at the same stage.
Related pages
Affect or Effect
Affect is nearly always the verb, effect nearly always the noun. The RAVEN trick, the the-or-an test, and sentences where only one of them fits.
Commonly Misspelled Words
The 100 words people get wrong most, each with the misspelling they actually type and the one letter that trips them - from friend to accommodate.
Your or You're
Your means belonging to you; you're is short for you are. Say the sentence with you are put back in - if it still works, you need the apostrophe.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between then and than?
Then is about time, what happens next; than is for comparing two things. In short: then = next, or at that time; than = the word used when comparing two things.
How do I remember which one to use?
Match the vowel to the job. Then goes with when and time, all spelled with an e. Than goes with compare, which has an a in it. If next fits, use then. If compared with fits, use than.
When do children learn then and than?
then and than usually come up around 5th grade, though they keep causing errors well into adulthood. These two are not true homophones: they sound different, but they are confused in writing often enough to behave like a pair.