Common spelling mistakes in English: than versus then.
You may recognise that a minor spelling mistake in an e-mail can quickly influence your perception of the sender. In business e-mail communication, you obviously want to appear professional, but a small mistake can quickly slip into your message.
However, you can avoid spelling mistakes if you pay extra attention to them.
We have listed a number of common spelling mistakes. If you become aware of these mistakes, you will be one step closer to professionalising your business English.
Than versus then
Should you write than or then? These words are spelled almost the same and are for example in Dutch both translated as 'dan', however there is an important grammatical difference between than and then:
- Than is only used in comparisons.
- Then means 'next'.
Example
- Incorrect: *My car is nicer then yours.
Correct: My car is nicer than yours. - Incorrect: *First you put in the milk, than you add the butter.
Correct: First you put in the milk, then you add the butter
More tips on English grammar and common mistakes in English? These articles might also interest you:
- English spelling: its or it's
- English spelling: full or ful
- English spelling: no, know or now
- English spelling: live, lives or life
- English spelling: there, they're or their
- English spelling: to, two or too
- English spelling: your or you're
- English spelling: were, wear, where or we're
- English spelling: with, which or witch
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