Comments | mistertassie: I'd Rather You Knew How to Use Then Than You Didn't

mistertassie

I'd Rather You Knew How to Use Then Than You Didn't

Jan 08, 2011 12:58

There are people out there who either don't know the difference between "then" and "than" or don't care. They're spelled almost the same, so they MUST be the same word, seems to be the rallying cry of these people. It's true, then and than are only one letter apart, but it's that one little difference that makes them DIFFERENT WORDS! Communication ( Read more... )

then, than

Comments 4

littlehoudini January 8 2011, 18:12:17 UTC

" I would much rather have a million dollars THEN a punch in the groin" which means that the speaker wants both things, but they want the money first, followed by the groin punch. One little letter makes a world of difference to the meaning of the sentence!

...of the *incomplete* sentence - I still don't know what you'd much rather have those things than.

mistertassie January 8 2011, 18:16:01 UTC

Not quite. Using rather with THEN indicates a sequencing preference. The sentence indicates a preference to have the money first THEN the punch rather than the other way around.

littlehoudini January 8 2011, 18:28:44 UTC

You're saying there's an unspoken / implied "...than the other way around" at the end of that sentence?

mistertassie January 8 2011, 19:07:07 UTC

Yes. Without the context of knowing what question was asked to prompt this particular response, there is no way to say conclusively that the sentence is or isn't incomplete. Rather does not NEED to be accompanied by than, it just frequently is. I rather fancy a stiff drink, for example. I'd rather not bathe in acid. Would you like a cup off coffee? No, I'd rather have tea.