Better than and better then are commonly confused because than and then sound similar in some varieties of English. However, they have completely different functions.
Better than is the correct expression when you’re comparing two people, things, actions, or situations.
This book is better than the movie.
Then usually refers to time, sequence, or what happens next.
Finish your homework, then watch the movie.
So the basic rule is:
Better than = comparison
Then = time or sequence
“Better then” is usually incorrect when you mean “better than.”
Quick Answer
Use better than when comparing two things:
She is better than me at tennis.
Use then when talking about what happens next or what happened at a particular time:
We went to dinner, then we went home.
Therefore:
better than ✅
better then ❌ when making a comparison
Why People Confuse Them
The words than and then differ by only one letter, and they can sound quite similar in rapid speech.
But their grammatical roles are different:
- Than → used for comparisons
- Then → used for time or sequence
This distinction applies beyond the phrase better than.
taller than
faster than
more expensive than
But:
first, then second
eat, then leave
back then
Better Than
Better than is used to compare one thing with another.
This phone is better than my old one.
The word better is the comparative form of good.
Examples
This restaurant is better than the other one.
She sings better than I do.
Today’s weather is better than yesterday’s.
This option is better than the first one.
He is better than me at chess.
Better Then
Better then is generally not correct when you’re trying to make a comparison.
For example:
❌ This phone is better then my old one.
The correct sentence is:
✅ This phone is better than my old one.
However, then can appear after better in a sentence when it genuinely has its normal meaning of time or sequence.
For example:
It was better then than it is now.
Here, the first then means “at that time.” The sentence contains both words:
It was better then than it is now.
This is an important distinction.
Comparison Table
| Word | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| than | Makes a comparison | She is better than me. |
| then | Shows time/sequence | We ate, then we left. |
| better than | Compares two things | This is better than that. |
| better then | Usually a spelling/usage error in comparisons | ❌ This is better then that. |
When to Use “Better Than”
Use better than whenever you’re comparing two things.
People
She is better than me at math.
Things
This laptop is better than my old one.
Actions
Walking is better than sitting all day.
Situations
Things are better than they were last year.
Preferences
I think tea is better than coffee.
When to Use “Then”
Use then primarily for time or sequence.
Sequence
First, read the instructions, then start the test.
Next action
I’ll call you, then we’ll discuss the problem.
Past time
Back then, we didn’t have smartphones.
Conditional result
If you finish early, then you can leave.
Notice that then does not make the comparison.
Examples (10+)
Better Than
- This book is better than that one.
- She is better than me at tennis.
- Today is better than yesterday.
- This solution is better than the previous one.
- He knows the subject better than I do.
- Walking is better than driving in this area.
- The new version is better than the old version.
Then
- Finish your work, then take a break.
- We had dinner and then went home.
- Back then, things were different.
- First, press this button, then select the option.
- If you’re ready, then let’s begin.
- I’ll explain it then.
Better Than Me vs Better Than I
You may also wonder about the grammar after than.
Both are heard in English:
She is better than me.
She is better than I am.
In everyday English, better than me is extremely common.
In more formal or traditional grammar, some speakers prefer:
She is better than I am.
The important point for today’s distinction is that the comparison uses than, not then.
Better Than vs Rather Than
Don’t confuse these expressions either.
Better than compares two things:
This option is better than the other one.
Rather than expresses preference or an alternative:
I’d walk rather than drive.
They have different meanings.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing “better then”
❌ This option is better then the other one.
✅ This option is better than the other one.
Mistake 2: Using “then” for every comparison
Remember:
taller than me ✅
faster than before ✅
more useful than that one ✅
Not:
taller then me ❌
faster then before ❌
Mistake 3: Assuming “then” is always wrong after “better”
Not necessarily.
Consider:
It was better then than it is now.
The first then is correct because it means “at that time.”
The second than is correct because it introduces a comparison.
“Better Than Ever”
A very common expression is:
better than ever
It means better than at any previous time.
Examples:
She looks better than ever.
The company is doing better than ever.
I feel better than ever.
Here, than is required because a comparison is being made.
“Better Then Than Now”
This sentence is a useful way to remember the difference:
It was better then than now.
Here:
- then = at that past time
- than = comparison
You can think of it as:
At that time → then
Comparison → than
American vs British English
The distinction between than and then is the same in American and British English.
Both varieties use:
better than ✅
for comparisons.
And:
then ✅
for time and sequence.
The spelling distinction is standard in both varieties.
Memory Trick
Here’s an easy trick:
THAN = comparison
Think:
better THAN something
taller THAN someone
more expensive THAN another product
And:
THEN = time
Think:
First, then…
One line memory trick:
If you’re comparing, use than; if you’re talking about what happens next or when, use then.
Final Verdict
Better than is the correct phrase when you’re making a comparison:
This one is better than that one. ✅
Better then is incorrect when then is being used in place of than:
❌ This one is better then that one.
However, then can correctly appear after better when it means “at that time”:
It was better then than it is now. ✅
Simple rule:
Comparison → than
Time/sequence → then
So when you mean “superior to,” always write better than.
FAQs
Is it “better than” or “better then”?
The correct phrase for comparisons is better than.
This is better than that. ✅
Why is “better then” wrong?
Because then is used mainly for time and sequence, while than is the word used to introduce a comparison.
Is “better then” ever correct?
Yes, but only when then means “at that time.”
It was better then than it is now.
What is the difference between “than” and “then”?
Than is used for comparisons:
better than me
Then refers to time or sequence:
first this, then that
Is “better than me” correct?
Yes. Better than me is standard and very common in everyday English.
Is “better than I” correct?
It can be, especially when followed by a verb:
She is better than I am.
In formal writing, than I am may be preferred by some speakers.
How do I remember “than” vs “then”?
Use than for comparisons and then for time or sequence.
better than
first, then
Is “better than ever” correct?
Yes.
Business is better than ever.
Here, than introduces a comparison.
Conclusion
The difference between better than and better then is easy once you remember what than and then do.
Than is the word for comparison, so the correct expression is:
better than
Then is associated with time and sequence:
First we ate, then we left.
The two words may sound similar, but they cannot normally be substituted for each other.
Remember This
Better than = comparison
This is better than that.
Then = time or sequence
First we finish, then we leave.
Quick rule: If you are comparing two things, use than, not then.
