I keep thinking people are mixing up then and than. But I don't know if I'm right or not. For example which is the correct sentence?
He noticed things looked a lot brighter then they should have.
He noticed things looked a lot brighter than they should have.
If it is the second sentence then authors are getting the two words mixed up. Thank you for your feedback.
He noticed things looked a lot brighter then they should have.
He noticed things looked a lot brighter than they should have.
"than" is correct.
'than' - conjunction, used to introduce the second element in a comparison; used to indicate an exception
'then' - adverb, at that time; at the time in question; afterwards
I agree.
He noticed things looked a lot brighter then they should have.
Just for fun I've been trying to think of a context in which this might be a legitimate sentence but, despite a load of contortions, I've so far been unsuccessful.
AJ
Than is correct.
I know this, but I sometimes I type then when I meant than.
There are a lot of words that we authors type even though we mean a different word when our minds are focused on the content of what we are writing. Then we miss our mistakes when editing.
Maybe I should be an editor. Because that stuff sticks out like a sore thumb for me. Thanks so much for your feedback. I thought I was going crazy.
Because that stuff sticks out like a sore thumb for me.
Me too.
I know of one author who often makes the reverse error: using than where it should be then.
Another error is using hanger(for clothes) instead of hangar(for aircraft).
In the case of their vs. they're I can't remember any use of they're instead of their, it's always the other way round.
HM.
Another error is using hanger(for clothes) instead of hangar(for aircraft).
My excellent editor caught me doing the reverse. (Putting a dress on a hangar in the closet.)
Another error is using hanger(for clothes) instead of hangar(for aircraft).
Sickeningly, I made this error and it's been on SOL for better than two years, with nobody telling me. Sigh.
Sickeningly, I made this error and it's been on SOL for better than two years, with nobody telling me. Sigh.
Maybe you need to wait several more years before they get that far into the story...?
Maybe you need to wait several more years before they get that far into the story...?
Michael is the Speedy Gonzalez of writers, he writes faster than readers can read!
I learned it that "then" only appled to time. All other situations use "than".
I learned it that "then" only appled to time. All other situations use "than".
If you think that, then you are wrong.
I learned it that "then" only appled to time. All other situations use "than".
I've been trying to think of exceptions but they're all extremely contrived eg 'Time flows faster in our universe then yours.' :)
AJ
