[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

The focus of today’s grammar lesson is two words — than and then — which are so commonly misused that I think people may simply be unaware they are two separate and different words.  Or, if they know they’re two words, then they just have no clue which word is which.  Of course, the words sound almost the same, but that’s where the similarities end.  Than is used in comparative sentences.  For example, Other than her four cousins, most of her remaining family resides in the Midwest.  And, Her dream is to live in beachfront property rather than in the desert mountains.  The word then is either used with a sequence of events, or as a time marker; i.e., I always work extra hard preparing for my trips, so then I’m able to kick back and relax once the plane takes off.  Or: Back then I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Do you get these two words mixed up, or are you able to keep them straight?