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Then versus Than, a la Shmoop. Josh has a hot date with Leslie this Saturday,

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and he has some decisions to make. Should they go to dinner and then to a movie...or

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the other way around?

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And would Leslie like a chick flick better than the latest Vin Diesel masterpiece?

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Josh has so much to worry about, it's a good thing he doesn't have to fret over the “then”

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versus “than” grammar rule. “Then” with an “e” is an element of

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time, and means “next” or “at the time”.

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For example, maybe you have English first thing Monday morning, then geometry, and then

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lunch.

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When you get home from school, maybe you do a little homework...

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...then play a video game, then eat dinner. “Than” with an “a” is what you use

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when you want to make a comparison.

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You might say, “Apple pie with vanilla ice cream is better than plain apple pie.”

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Duh, talk about your obvious statements.

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Or, you might say, “Grandma Meredith is even more frightening than a boa constrictor.”

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Yeah, she scares us, too. If you're looking for a trick to remember

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the difference between “then” with an “e” and “than” with an “a”...

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...recall that there's an “e” in “then” and an “e” in “time”...

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...so the two go together...

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...and that there's an “a” in “than” and an “a” in “comparison”...

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...so those two go together. Now Josh just needs to figure out when on

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Saturday night to pencil in a make-out session with Leslie.

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Of course, Leslie may have her own plans…

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