ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Literature Text
While most writers have little or no trouble distinguishing the two similar words then and than, there are some that frequently confuse them. That is, ‘then’ is often or always used by some in place of ‘than’.
Then is the adverb that describes a point in time. You might use it to refer to a time already mentioned, in the same way as one might use a pronoun in place of a name.
Andrew went to university in 1996. He was eighteen then.
Whilst this is not a very interesting sentence, and would need touching up if it were to be used in fiction, it serves its purpose for this guide.
You might also use ‘then’ to mean ‘after that’.
We had dinner, and then we went to see a film.
There are a few other uses for the word ‘then’, as most good dictionaries will attest, and most people know what these are. This being the case, I shan’t go into any more detail on ‘then’, for the problem comes when one is tempted to use the word in place of ‘than’.
Than is the conjunction used to introduce the second member of a comparison.
My cat is more playful than your cat.
My poodle is fluffier than your poodle.
Though I am about to complicate things, I do say that it is as simple as that. Do not use ‘then’ for sentences such as these.
Further Points on ‘Than’
This is where it starts to get unnecessarily complicated for such a small word. The main purpose of this guide has already been covered, as arguably the most important issue relating to the word has been addressed. The following points, however, are worth looking at.
You will notice that, in the two examples above, one of the adjectives has a comparative form: fluffy/fluffier. The other does not: playful becomes more playful. In some ways, this is a separate issue, but it is (almost?) always something to be aware of when using ‘than’. Some adjectives have comparative and superlative* forms, and others do not. Most of us know which do and which do not, simply from learning to speak English. If, however, you find that you are not sure about a particular adjective, I can only recommend that you look it up.
Another point to consider is one of grammar.
Using the first of the two examples above, the sentence could continue, ‘My cat is more playful than your cat is.’ Grammatically, it is strictly speaking correct for both nouns to appear in the nominative case. However, an Oxford dictionary published long before I was born (in 1985, if you must know), assures me that it has become acceptable for the second object to be used in the accusative case.
But let me simplify, using pronouns, which - unlike common nouns (and, indeed, proper nouns) can change depending upon their position in the sentence.**
Where the second pronoun appears in the nominative case:
I am much more beautiful than she.
Where the second pronoun appears in the accusative case:
I am much more beautiful than her.
The difference is minimal, and for many if not most people, it is probably more usual to take the second option. As I said, my dictionary claims that this is acceptable, though I would argue it is not preferable if you want to be strictly accurate. Either way, it is certainly something to think about, especially when writing dialogue. How much of a grammar Nazi is your character?
* The difference between comparative and superlative is essentially the difference between more and most. A superlative adjective ends with ‘(i)est’, for example, fluffiest.
** There are exceptions, of course; ‘it’, ‘one’ and ‘you’ do not change. But you knew that.
Then is the adverb that describes a point in time. You might use it to refer to a time already mentioned, in the same way as one might use a pronoun in place of a name.
Andrew went to university in 1996. He was eighteen then.
Whilst this is not a very interesting sentence, and would need touching up if it were to be used in fiction, it serves its purpose for this guide.
You might also use ‘then’ to mean ‘after that’.
We had dinner, and then we went to see a film.
There are a few other uses for the word ‘then’, as most good dictionaries will attest, and most people know what these are. This being the case, I shan’t go into any more detail on ‘then’, for the problem comes when one is tempted to use the word in place of ‘than’.
Than is the conjunction used to introduce the second member of a comparison.
My cat is more playful than your cat.
My poodle is fluffier than your poodle.
Though I am about to complicate things, I do say that it is as simple as that. Do not use ‘then’ for sentences such as these.
Further Points on ‘Than’
This is where it starts to get unnecessarily complicated for such a small word. The main purpose of this guide has already been covered, as arguably the most important issue relating to the word has been addressed. The following points, however, are worth looking at.
You will notice that, in the two examples above, one of the adjectives has a comparative form: fluffy/fluffier. The other does not: playful becomes more playful. In some ways, this is a separate issue, but it is (almost?) always something to be aware of when using ‘than’. Some adjectives have comparative and superlative* forms, and others do not. Most of us know which do and which do not, simply from learning to speak English. If, however, you find that you are not sure about a particular adjective, I can only recommend that you look it up.
Another point to consider is one of grammar.
Using the first of the two examples above, the sentence could continue, ‘My cat is more playful than your cat is.’ Grammatically, it is strictly speaking correct for both nouns to appear in the nominative case. However, an Oxford dictionary published long before I was born (in 1985, if you must know), assures me that it has become acceptable for the second object to be used in the accusative case.
But let me simplify, using pronouns, which - unlike common nouns (and, indeed, proper nouns) can change depending upon their position in the sentence.**
Where the second pronoun appears in the nominative case:
I am much more beautiful than she.
Where the second pronoun appears in the accusative case:
I am much more beautiful than her.
The difference is minimal, and for many if not most people, it is probably more usual to take the second option. As I said, my dictionary claims that this is acceptable, though I would argue it is not preferable if you want to be strictly accurate. Either way, it is certainly something to think about, especially when writing dialogue. How much of a grammar Nazi is your character?
* The difference between comparative and superlative is essentially the difference between more and most. A superlative adjective ends with ‘(i)est’, for example, fluffiest.
** There are exceptions, of course; ‘it’, ‘one’ and ‘you’ do not change. But you knew that.
Literature
Wrath of the Grammar Nazi
In favor of avoiding parallel structure debates (misplaced modifiers, ahh!) and a general crusade against passive voice, WordCount is offering a list of common "pet peeves" to satisfy the punctuation junkie in all of you.
Please understand that this list is by no means exhaustive, nor is it original, but it warrants saying from time to time. Nothing in here is meant to insult you, all rules can be broken, and there are always exceptions. One should also note that rules about comma usage and "the dash" differ from place to place and country to country, but this list falls back on Oxford's guide to style (because we all n
Literature
Common Writing Errors
Most of us know clumsy sentences when we hear or read them, but we don't always know exactly why they are clumsy or possess the skills to fix them. Here's a sentence that needs a little work:
The network that this computer is able to connect to contains information that is privileged and confidential.
The clumsiness is caused by several common writing errors:
Unnecessary dependent clauses
Get rid of that is/which is, that are/which are clauses whenever possible.
Extraneous verb phrases
Delete verb phrases that don't add meaning: is able to.
Subjects too far away from their verbs
Place subjects closer to their verbs: computer connects,
Literature
An Interesting Concept: II
So, I have found it.
Finally, after centuries of research and pondering, of questions after questions, humanity has finally discovered the true meaning of the most important word and emotion to ever exist.
I have written about this topic before, questioning and seeking the definition of this four-letter conundrum. I presented almost all the available options and demonstrated how such findings could be used to accurately prove the most mysterious hypothesis of all time. As you know, however, even with all the facts the galaxy could present, it was impossible to nail down one single explanation.
I speak of course, about love.
-------------
Suggested Collections
Whilst the first part of this guide is simple and straightforward, the larger part of it does get rather complicated and contains some long words. I am certainly not assuming that most of you don't know what these words mean, but there are likely to be some that don't. If you don't, then I hope my explanations suffice, as they are useful terms for writers to know and relate to issues you need to be aware of. If anything is not clear, of course, feel free to ask in a comment.
Standard Message:
Occasionally *simplyprose will submit a guide such as this one, with the aim of helping writers to improve the quality of their work.
We are by no means the only person or group on this site to offer such a service, and recommend that writers read as much as they can to help them improve on their work. Our administrator may create a *simplyprose guide on an aspect of writing that has been addressed elsewhere, and this may be for any number of reasons. For example:
she is addressing a mistake common to *simplyprose submissions.
the issue relates directly to a *simplyprose activity or contest.
she is unaware of another such piece existing.
Of course, no one will have a problem with that, as such issues as this will always bear repeating.
Standard Message:
Occasionally *simplyprose will submit a guide such as this one, with the aim of helping writers to improve the quality of their work.
We are by no means the only person or group on this site to offer such a service, and recommend that writers read as much as they can to help them improve on their work. Our administrator may create a *simplyprose guide on an aspect of writing that has been addressed elsewhere, and this may be for any number of reasons. For example:
she is addressing a mistake common to *simplyprose submissions.
the issue relates directly to a *simplyprose activity or contest.
she is unaware of another such piece existing.
Of course, no one will have a problem with that, as such issues as this will always bear repeating.
© 2008 - 2024 simplyprose
Comments13
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
that then n than was really a confusion for me before hehe