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Problem with then and than.

Discussion in 'Whatnots' started by Nakia, Jan 23, 2009.

  1. Nakia

    Nakia The night is mine Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    Remove all ads!
    I have a problem with the correct usage of then and than. Can one of you who is really good at proper English Grammar explain simply but clearly when then is used and when than is used?

    Thank you in advance. :)
     
    Nakia, Jan 23, 2009
    #1
  2. Silvery

    Silvery I won't pretend to be your friend coz I'm just not ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    Then can be used in a time line type doo-dah 'Then I said...' Then this happened'
    Than is like 'More than' 'Better than' 'Other than'

    Any clearer?
     
    Silvery, Jan 23, 2009
    #2
  3. Montresor

    Montresor Mostly Harmless Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    I'll try to boil down the entries in the Oxford Concise Dictionary to normal English. :) The big difference is that "than" is used to compare things; "then" can't be used in comparisons.

    "Than" is used in comparisons ("His mother is older than his father") or to tell the difference between two things ("Someone other than me).

    "Then" is used as:

    • At that time ("he was older then"; "then comes the trouble")
    • Afterwards ("then he told me to come in")
    • And also ("then, there are the children to consider")
    • After all ("but then, that's what we're here for")
    • In that case, therefore, it follows ("then you should have said so")
    • If what you say is true ("but then why did you...")
    • If you must have it so ("all right then, have it your way")
    • Used parenthetically to resume a narrative ("a policeman, then, knocked on the door")
    • That or who was such at the time ("the then Duke of Windsor")
    • That time ("until then")

    Hope that didn't confuse things too badly! :)
     
    Montresor, Jan 23, 2009
    #3
  4. Nakia

    Nakia The night is mine Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    :)hanks, Montresor. It helps. Than for comparisons. Then for just about everything else. Right?

    :bang: Those two words give me a headache.
     
    Nakia, Jan 23, 2009
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  5. Fabius Maximus Gems: 19/31
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    Getting the difference between this and that is much harder. ;)
     
    Fabius Maximus, Jan 23, 2009
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  6. ChickenIsGood Gems: 23/31
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    It's kind of the same with further and farther... which I learned the difference between while watching the movie Finding Forrester.
     
    ChickenIsGood, Jan 23, 2009
    #6
  7. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Having problems with use of words reminds me....

    A man arrived at work looking forelorn and depressed. His best friend came up to him, "Whoa, buddy, you really look down. What's going on?"

    The man sighed, "I'm in a lot of trouble with the wife. You know how sometimes you means to say one thing and something else comes out?"

    "Yeah, it happens all the time."

    "Well, this morning I meant to say 'Honey, please pass the butter.' But what came out was 'You stupid witch, you ruined my life.'"
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2009
    T2Bruno, Jan 23, 2009
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  8. Fabius Maximus Gems: 19/31
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    :D

    Was the typo in line 2 intentional? ;)
     
    Fabius Maximus, Jan 26, 2009
    #8
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