{"id":11358,"date":"2021-06-16T08:07:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T08:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roshreview.com\/blog\/?p=11358"},"modified":"2022-05-03T08:05:49","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T08:05:49","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-then-and-than","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roshreview.com\/blog\/whats-the-difference-between-then-and-than\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Difference Between Then and Than?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
This month\u2019s writing tip is another dive into the differences between two words. This time, let\u2019s tackle then vs than. It\u2019s easy to see why these can be confused, right? They\u2019re practically the same word (in spelling and sound), but they have different meanings and uses. So what\u2019s the difference between them? <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

When making a comparison, use than<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

I thought the general surgery shelf exam was harder than<\/span><\/u> all the other shelf exams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

See the comparison? The surgery shelf exam was harder compared to all other shelf exams, which is why \u201cthan\u201d is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use then<\/strong> when you\u2019re discussing something having to do with time (like something that happens next or at a certain time).<\/p>\n\n\n

First<\/u> I\u2019m taking the WHNP certification exam<\/strong>, then<\/span><\/u> I\u2019m going to dinner to celebrate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

She states she had typical cramping and pain with her period but then<\/span> continued<\/u> to have pain even after<\/u> menstruating<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Both examples give information that\u2019s happening in relation to time. The first example talks about a series of events<\/strong> happening in one day, and the second example refers to the pain the patient had after<\/strong> she finished menstruating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few other nuanced ways to use then<\/em>. Check out the Merriam-Webster definition<\/a> to see them, if you\u2019re curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Time for you to try some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n

The fever and other symptoms generally persist for 48\u201396 hours<\/strong>. Patients will <\/strong>[then<\/span><\/strong>\/than<\/span><\/strong>] feel better for 24 hours before a fever may occur again<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

This is explaining how patients will feel next (in time)\u2014then<\/em> is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n

The fever and other symptoms generally persist for 48\u201396 hours<\/strong>. Patients will then<\/span><\/u> feel better for 24 hours before a fever may occur again<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

How about this example?<\/p>\n\n\n

The patient\u2019s family history of prostate cancer and associated risk factors make him more at risk for prostate cancer <\/strong>[then<\/span><\/strong>\/than<\/span><\/strong>] colon cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Is this example making a comparison or listing things in a time-related series or order?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient is more<\/em> at risk for prostate cancer (compared to colon cancer), so than<\/em> is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n

The patient\u2019s family history of prostate cancer and associated risk factors make him more at risk<\/u> for prostate cancer than<\/span><\/u> colon cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

One last one:<\/p>\n\n\n

His parents report he was fussier <\/strong>[then<\/span><\/strong>\/than<\/span><\/strong>] usual yesterday<\/strong>, had a low-grade fever<\/strong>, and did not eat well<\/strong>, but the rash did not appear until today<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

This one is talking about a specific time (yesterday) but compares the boy\u2019s fussiness yesterday to how he normally is. Even though it takes place during a specific time, this example shows a comparison: than is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n

His parents report he was fussier than<\/span> usual<\/u> yesterday<\/strong>, had a low-grade fever<\/strong>, and did not eat well<\/strong>, but the rash did not appear until today<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Pretty straightforward, right? In general, use than<\/em> when you\u2019re making a comparison, and use then<\/em> when you\u2019re talking about something happening related to time. What words do you often confuse? Leave a comment below\u2014maybe you\u2019ll inspire a future lesson!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This month\u2019s writing tip is another dive into the differences between two words. This time, let\u2019s tackle then vs than. It\u2019s easy to see why these can be confused, right? They\u2019re practically the same word (in spelling and sound), but they have different meanings and uses. So what\u2019s the difference between them?  When making a read more…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":11203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1998],"tags":[2735],"coauthors":[3822],"class_list":["post-11358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lauras-lessons","tag-grammar"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat's the Difference Between Then and Than? - RoshReview.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whats The Difference Between Then And Than. 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