Monday, April 13, 2009

Better Then You

Then and Than. Two words that can sometimes cause confusion. Especially if you've been staring at a manuscript for too long. Let's see if we can make this easy.

Than refers to the COMPARISON of two items.
Then refers to TIME.

Wrong: Chocolate is better then liverwurst .
Right: Chocolate is better than liverwurst .

Wrong: If liverwurst is served, than chocolate is my choice.
Right: If liverwurst is served, then chocolate is my choice.

Does that help? Or are you just staring at those chocolate bars?

I'm reading: Better Then YouTweet this! Written by Kristen Painter at 7:35 AM
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14 comments:

  1. Terri Tiffany7:40 AM

    Staring at the chocolate--how unfair first thing in the morning!

    ReplyDelete
  2. B.E. Sanderson8:01 AM

    Ummm... the chocolate? I blame the chocolate-fest we had yesterday. So much yummy goodness, so little time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jessica Nelson8:16 AM

    LOL I didn't even realize what the pic was of. Good job explaining this. I see it messed up a lot, and even though I know the difference, sometimes I switch them too.

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  4. Louisa Edwards8:59 AM

    This one makes me insane when I read it. Also? Makes me think whoever wrote it is semi-literate, even though I know it's probably just a typo. Unfair and judgmental? Maybe.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kwana11:09 AM

    Oh my. That sentence confused me more. Since you sort of were comparing Liverwurst (ugh) to chocolate (yum).

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  6. Lara Santiago12:07 PM

    There was something else besides the chocolate bars? :)
    L

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tana12:26 PM

    OK I couldn't take my eyes of those chocolate bars. In my defense I'm still in a sugar coma from yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  8. December3:34 PM

    Its so simple, and yet, I ALWAYS screw it up. I wonder if it has to do with my wiiis coooooon siiin accent?

    I even think twice about it now, when I'm editing. I still get flagged on it. GAH!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4:26 PM

    uhhh, I was looking at the chocolate. Did you say something?

    ReplyDelete
  10. MarkD608:55 PM

    Effect and affect always get me!

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  11. Junosmom9:22 PM

    I already ate a whole bar today all by myself. I get the grammar, but it's wasted here in Kentucky. (They would write "its waisted". ) Honestly.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jennifer Shirk5:49 AM

    Oooh...chocolate...

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  13. Two Voices Publishing 6:35 AM

    Chocolate...yum! Oh...then and than. Excellent tip! I'm still happy about finally learning the difference between further and farther.

    ReplyDelete
  14. moxylyn9:44 PM

    I'm just staring at the chocolate. I'm wondering if it has almonds. I would eat it either way. I'm not cooking all next week. Maybe I should do chocolate for dinner every night!

    ReplyDelete

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