Quick answer Canonicalizes to Then vs. Than
Is it "better then" or "better than"?
i · AnswerOne line, no lecture
"Better than." Than is for comparisons; then is for time.
ii · ContextWhy the question comes up
The then/than swap is one of the most common autocorrect-proof typos because both words are real, spell-checked English — only the meaning distinguishes them. It shows up most in fast typing (DMs, code comments, product reviews) where the writer hears the word in their head and grabs the wrong form.
iv · ExamplesWrong on the left, right on the right
This phone is better then the old one.
This phone is better than the old one.
Two phones being compared → *than*.
She ran faster then he did.
She ran faster than he did.
Comparing speeds → *than*.
v · Watch forWhen the rule bends
If the sentence is really about sequence — first I saved the file, then I ran the build — then is correct. The giveaway: can you replace it with after that?
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- Alright vs. All right The casual one-word form versus the two-word form editors prefer. Confusables