Have you ever hesitated while writing “other than” or “other then”? 🤔
Don’t worry — this is one of those sneaky English confusions that even native speakers stumble on.
Both “than” and “then” are real words, and they sound similar — but they serve completely different grammatical purposes. Mixing them up changes the meaning of your sentence.
Although they look alike, only one phrase is correct in standard English — and it depends on what you’re trying to say.
In this article, we’ll clearly explain the difference between “other than” and “other then,” show examples of each, share real-life dialogues, and give you simple memory tricks so you’ll never confuse them again.
By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use each — like a true grammar pro. 💡
What Is “Other Than”?
✅ “Other than” is the correct and standard phrase in English.
It’s used to mean “except for,” “apart from,” or “besides.”
Meaning and Usage
“Other than” helps exclude or contrast something from the rest of a group.
Examples:
- “I don’t eat meat other than chicken.”
→ (Meaning: I eat only chicken, not any other meat.) - “She has no hobbies other than reading.”
→ (Meaning: Reading is her only hobby.) - “Is there any reason other than money for your decision?”
→ (Meaning: Is money the only reason, or is there something else?)
Grammar Role
- “Other” acts as an adjective meaning “different.”
- “Than” is a conjunction used in comparisons or exceptions.
Together, they form a prepositional phrase that excludes something or someone from a statement.
💬 In short:
Use “other than” when you mean “except for” or “aside from.”
What Is “Other Then”?
⚠️ “Other then” is almost always incorrect — at least in modern standard English.
Why? Because “then” means “at that time” or “next in order,” not “except for.”
So, when people write “other then,” they’re usually mixing up “then” and “than.”
Example of Incorrect Usage (❌)
- “I like all colors other then blue.” ❌
→ Wrong! “Then” makes no sense here.
✅ Correct: “I like all colors other than blue.”
However, there are rare cases where “other then” can appear grammatically correct — but with a completely different meaning.
When “Other Then” Can Technically Work
If “then” refers to time, not comparison, the phrase might work — though it’s uncommon.
Example (rare but correct):
- “I thought of it as one plan, and every other then was a backup.”
→ Meaning: every alternative time or moment after that one.
But such uses are extremely rare and often confusing — even for native speakers.
👉 So, in everyday English, “other then” = wrong, while “other than” = correct.
Key Differences Between “Other Than” and “Other Then”
| Aspect | Other Than | Other Then |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Except for / besides | Refers to a different time (rare) |
| Usage frequency | Common and correct | Rare and usually incorrect |
| Grammar | Prepositional phrase (other + than) | “Then” = time adverb |
| Example (Correct) | “No one came other than John.” | “Every other then, he’d call.” (awkward) |
| Dictionaries | Listed and defined | Not listed as a phrase |
💡 Quick Rule:
If your sentence means “except for,” always use “other than.”
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1: Casual Chat
Tom: “I don’t like any fruit other then apples.”
Sophie: “You mean other than! ‘Then’ is about time — ‘than’ is about comparison.”
🎯 Lesson: Use other than when excluding or comparing things.
Dialogue 2: Office Email
Manager: “Please submit any documents other then the main report.”
Colleague: “Just a quick correction — it should be other than.”
🎯 Lesson: Even small preposition mix-ups can look unprofessional in writing.
Dialogue 3: English Class
Student: “Is ‘other then’ ever right?”
Teacher: “Only if you’re talking about time — like ‘every other then.’ But that’s super rare.”
🎯 Lesson: 99% of the time, use other than.
Dialogue 4: Online Comment
User A: “I like every actor in that movie other then the main one.”
User B: “Oops — it’s other than! Happens to everyone.”
🎯 Lesson: Online writing often exposes common grammar mix-ups — but they’re easy to fix!
Dialogue 5: Storytime
Liam: “She loved everyone other then Mark.”
Nora: “Oh, poor Mark — but you mean other than!”
🎯 Lesson: Spelling changes meaning — even in stories!
When to Use “Other Than” vs “Other Then”
| Context | Use “Other Than” | Use “Other Then” |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday writing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Academic or business writing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Comparing or excluding items | ✅ | ❌ |
| Talking about time (“then”) | ❌ | ⚠️ Rare (use carefully) |
| Formal speech | ✅ | ❌ |
👉 In summary:
Unless you’re describing a different time, you’ll almost never need “other then.”
Stick with “other than” for 99.9% of your sentences.
Fun Fact: The “Then vs Than” Confusion
Did you know? 📚
The confusion between “than” and “then” goes back centuries. Both words come from Old English roots:
- Than (from þanne or þan) was used for comparisons.
- Then (from þenne) was used for time references.
Because they sound so similar, many speakers began mixing them — a mistake that continues today, especially in digital writing.
So when in doubt, remember this:
Than = Comparison.
Then = Time.
Once you get that, “other than” becomes an easy win. ✅
Examples of “Other Than” in Sentences
Here are some examples to help it stick:
- “I have nothing to say other than thank you.”
- “No one attended the meeting other than Sarah.”
- “They serve no drinks other than coffee.”
- “There’s no reason to be late other than traffic.”
- “He wears no color other than black.”
Each one shows exclusion or exception, which is exactly what “other than” expresses.
Examples of “Then” (to Compare)
Let’s quickly look at “then” so you don’t confuse it again:
- “We went to dinner, then to a movie.”
- “Back then, things were simpler.”
- “If you study hard, then you’ll pass.”
Notice — then always relates to time or sequence, not comparison.
So in “other then,” the time meaning doesn’t make sense most of the time.
How to Remember the Difference
Here are a few tricks to lock it in:
🧠 1. Comparison vs Time Rule:
- If your sentence compares or excludes → than
- If it’s about time → then
🧩 2. Replace Test:
Try swapping in a synonym:
- Can you replace it with “except for”? → use other than
- Can you replace it with “next”? → use then
Example:
“I like all candy except for chocolate.” ✅
So: “I like all candy other than chocolate.”
🎯 3. Sound Memory Trick:
“ThAn” = compArison (both have A)
“ThEn” = timE (both have E)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 “Other then that…” ❌
✅ “Other than that…”
🚫 “I like no one other then you.” ❌
✅ “I like no one other than you.”
🚫 “Other then money, what motivates you?” ❌
✅ “Other than money, what motivates you?”
💬 Pro tip: Set your spellchecker to highlight “other then” as a grammar warning. Many tools like Grammarly already do this!
Mini Practice Quiz
Choose the correct option for each sentence:
- She has no pets ___ her cat.
- a) other than ✅
- b) other then
- Back ___, people wrote letters instead of emails.
- a) than
- b) then ✅
- Nobody came to the party ___ my cousin.
- a) other than ✅
- b) other then
- If you’re free now, we can go ___ to the park.
- a) than
- b) then ✅
🎯 Score: 4/4? Congratulations — you’ve mastered it!
Conclusion
To sum it up:
“Other than” is the correct phrase meaning “except for” or “besides.”
“Other then” is usually a mistake caused by confusing “then” (time) with “than” (comparison).
So next time you’re writing, remember this simple rule:
If it’s about exception, say other than.
If it’s about time, use then.
Now that you know the difference, you’ll never pause again — and that’s another grammar victory worth celebrating. 🎉
