More than is the correct spelling when you are making a comparison or talking about a greater amount, number, or degree. More then is usually a mistake.
For example:
- We have more than enough food.
- She waited for more than an hour.
- More than 50 people attended.
- I love you more than words can say.
The confusion comes from then and than, which look and sound similar but have different jobs. Than is used mainly for comparison, while then usually refers to time, order, or what happens next.
Both Cambridge and Oxford define than in terms of comparison and then in terms of time or sequence.
Quick Answer
| Phrase | Correct? | Use |
|---|---|---|
| more than | ✅ Yes | Comparison, amount, number, or degree |
| more then | ❌ Usually no | Normally a mistake when comparison is intended |
So write:
More than 100 people came to the event.
Not:
❌ More then 100 people came to the event.
The reason is simple: 100 people is being compared with a larger number, so than is required.
What Does “More Than” Mean?
More than means a greater amount, number, degree, or extent.
It can be used with numbers and amounts:
- The bag costs more than $50.
- The trip took more than three hours.
- More than 1,000 people visited the website.
- She has more than five years of experience.
It can also compare qualities or actions:
- This book is more than a simple guide.
- He knows more than I expected.
- She works more than anyone else on the team.
Oxford lists more/less/fewer + than as a structure used to compare amounts, numbers, and distances.
Than vs. Then: What Is the Difference?
The easiest way to separate the two words is to focus on their jobs.
Than = Comparison
Use than when one thing is being compared with another.
- bigger than
- better than
- less than
- more than
- faster than
- stronger than
For example:
This phone is better than my old one.
The box weighs more than 10 kilograms.
Cambridge describes than as a word used to compare different things or amounts.
Then = Time or Sequence
Use then when you mean at that time, next, or after that.
- I was younger then.
- Finish your work, then call me.
- We had dinner and then went home.
- I’ll see you then.
Cambridge gives then several uses, including referring to a particular time and showing what happens next.
So the basic rule is:
Than compares. Then tells when or what comes next.
More Than Grammar: How to Use It Correctly
More than commonly appears with numbers, amounts, comparative ideas, and expressions of degree.
With Numbers
More than 20 students joined the class.
With Money
The jacket costs more than $100.
With Time
The meeting lasted more than two hours.
With Degree
She was more than happy to help.
With Expectations
The results were more than we expected.
In each case, than connects the idea of “more” with something being compared or exceeded.
More Than Welcome, More Than Likely, and Other Common Expressions
Several everyday expressions use more than. These are worth learning because they appear often in both speech and writing.
More Than Welcome
More than welcome means very welcome or completely welcome.
You are more than welcome to join us.
Your parents are more than welcome here.
Do not write more then welcome when you mean this expression.
More Than Likely
More than likely means probably.
She will more than likely arrive tomorrow.
It will more than likely rain tonight.
Again, the correct form is more than likely, not more then likely.
More Than Enough
This means there is enough and still some extra.
We have more than enough food for everyone.
More Than Ever
This means to a greater degree than before.
I appreciate your help more than ever.
These expressions all use than, not then.
More Then or More Than Examples
Here are some common mistakes and their correct forms:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| More then 50 people came. | More than 50 people came. |
| It costs more then $20. | It costs more than $20. |
| She is more then happy. | She is more than happy. |
| We waited more then an hour. | We waited more than an hour. |
| He knows more then I do. | He knows more than I do. |
| Better then before. | Better than before. |
| Less then expected. | Less than expected. |
The same mistake can appear with other comparison or contrast expressions. Rather than and other than, for example, use than, but they are not simply comparative words.
They are expressions that introduce comparison, contrast, preference, or difference.
“I Love You More Than” or “I Love You More Then”?
The correct form is:
I love you more than…
Use than because the sentence introduces a comparison.
For example:
- I love you more than words can explain.
- I love you more than you know.
- I love you more than anything.
- I love you more than I can say.
You could also say:
I love you more than anyone else.
Here, than connects the comparison.
But then can be correct in a different sentence:
I loved you then, and I still love you now.
In that sentence, then means at that time.
Can “More Then” Ever Be Correct?
Yes, but only when more and then have separate grammatical roles.
For example:
We exercised more then than we do now.
Here, more means to a greater extent, while then refers to an earlier time. The second than introduces the comparison with the present.
So more then is not automatically impossible as two separate words. However, if you mean the normal comparison more than, use than.
More Than Synonyms
Depending on the sentence, more than can sometimes be replaced by:
- over
- above
- greater than
- in excess of
For example:
More than 100 people attended.
can become:
Over 100 people attended.
But these alternatives do not work naturally in every sentence. For example, “I love you more than words can say” cannot simply be replaced with over without changing the meaning or making the sentence unnatural.
Choose the alternative based on the context.
Better Than or Better Then?
The correct phrase is better than when you are comparing two things.
This version is better than the old one.
She sings better than I do.
The same rule applies to:
- less than
- faster than
- stronger than
- worse than
- rather than
- other than
But then is correct when it shows time or sequence:
We finished the first draft, then we edited it.
That is not a comparison. It tells us what happened next.
How to Remember Than vs. Then
Use one simple question:
Am I comparing something?
If yes, use than.
more than 50
better than before
less than expected
If you are talking about time or sequence, use then.
I’ll see you then.
We ate, then we left.
Back then, things were different.
A short memory rule makes it even easier:
Than = comparison
Then = time or sequence
Oxford also identifies than with comparisons and then with a particular time or sequence, so this shortcut reflects the basic dictionary distinction.
A Few Easy Sentence Tests
When you are unsure, try these quick examples.
More Than
The car costs more than $30,000.
This compares the car’s price with $30,000.
More Than Welcome
You are more than welcome to stay.
Here, more than is part of a common expression.
More Than Likely
He will more than likely agree.
Here, more than likely means probably.
Then
Finish your work, then go home.
Here, then shows the order of two actions.
Then for a Time
I lived there then.
Here, then means at that time.
Practice Quiz: More Then or More Than?
Choose than or then.
- She has more ___ five years of experience.
- Finish your work, ___ call me.
- The shoes cost more ___ $50.
- I was living in London back ___.
- He is better ___ his previous score.
- We had dinner and ___ watched a movie.
- I am more ___ happy to help.
- It will more ___ likely happen tomorrow.
Answers
- than
- then
- than
- then
- than
- then
- than
- than
If the sentence involves a comparison, than is usually the answer. If it refers to time or the next step, then is usually the right choice.
FAQs
Which is correct, then or than?
Both words are correct, but they have different meanings. Than is mainly used for comparisons, while then usually refers to time, sequence, or what happens next.
Is “more then” ever grammatically correct?
It can be correct when more and then are separate parts of a sentence, such as when then refers to an earlier time. But when you mean a greater amount or comparison, use more than.
Should I say “more than” or “more then”?
Say more than when you mean a greater amount, number, degree, or extent.
Is it “more than happy” or “more then happy”?
The correct expression is more than happy.
I am more than happy to help.
Do you say “better than” or “better then”?
Use better than when comparing two things.
This option is better than the other one.
Is it “I love you more than” or “I love you more then”?
Use I love you more than when you are making a comparison.
I love you more than words can say.
Which is correct: “than I did” or “then I did”?
For a comparison, use than I did:
She worked harder than I did.
For a sequence, use then I did:
I finished my work, then I did the dishes.
Is it “I’ll see you then” or “I’ll see you than”?
The correct phrase is I’ll see you then when then refers to a particular time.
See you at six.
I’ll see you then.
Why use “then” instead of “than”?
Use then when you mean at that time, next, or after that. Use than when you are making a comparison.
What’s an easy trick to remember then vs. than?
Remember: than compares; then tells when or what happens next.
Conclusion
If you are choosing between more then and more than, the correct choice is almost always more than when you mean a greater amount, number, degree, or comparison.
Use:
- more than 50
- more than $100
- more than enough
- more than happy
- more than likely
- I love you more than words can say
Use then for time and sequence:
- I’ll see you then.
- We ate, then we left.
- Back then, things were different.
The easiest rule is simple: than compares, while then refers to time or sequence. Once you keep that difference in mind, phrases such as more than, better than, and less than become much easier to use correctly.
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