Forum: Editors/Reviewers Hangout

Then vs. Than

Vance 🚫

This is the most annoying, widespread and unforgivable mistake in all online erotica, not just SOL. I think it comes from spelling out of nasal pronunciation.

Then is about time: Then it was time to go.

Than is about comparing: Mine is larger than yours.

A trick to keep them apart:

-- then and time have a letter "E" in them;

-- than and comparison have a letter "A" in them.

Please, please keep these straight. I am a volunteer proofreader/editor with professional experience.

Replies: PotomacBob Switch Blayde Remus2

PotomacBob 🚫

@Vance

If we remember the e and a distinctions, does that also stop typos?

Replies: Vance

Vance 🚫

@PotomacBob

If we remember the e and a distinctions, does that also stop typos?

No, of course. But when I see one used wrongly consistently and repeatedly, it's not a typo but a error in word use (or spelling).

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@Vance

But when I see one used wrongly consistently and repeatedly, it's not a typo but a error in word use (or spelling).

I'll buy that for this specific case, but not as a general rule. Even if done consistently, swapping two letters that are adjacent on the keyboard could sill be poor typing.

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Vance

This is the most annoying, widespread and unforgivable mistake in all online erotica,

Not just erotica. It's a common error in writing. Thankfully it's an error I've never been saddled with, but it pops out at me all the time when I read other people's words.

Remus2 🚫

@Vance

Rather than complain, I give them the benifit of the doubt. At least the first time through. If I see it repeatedly thereafter, then I would be more likely to speak up.

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Forum: Editors/Reviewers Hangout

Then vs. Than

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