"Then" or "Than"?

When do you use "then" versus "than"? The easiest way to remember is this: use "than" for any sort of comparison. "I am taller than you." "Eggs are more expensive than cheese."

"Then" indicates time ("I went to the store, and this then I went home."), or a cause-effect relationship ("If you are late, then you will lose five marks."). Be careful, though. If you are comparing times, you should still use "than". "He arrived earlier than I did."

If you are not sure which to use, try this simple test. Only use "then" if you could just as easily say "and then", or if you used the word "if" before "then".