Many English learners, writers, and even native speakers often pause when writing “more than or more then.”
At first glance, the two phrases look almost identical—just one small letter difference. Yet that single letter completely changes the meaning.
This is exactly why people search for this keyword so frequently. They want a quick, confident answer without feeling embarrassed or confused.
The confusion usually comes from pronunciation. In fast speech, than and then can sound similar, especially in informal conversation.
Autocorrect and typing speed also add to the problem, causing writers to use the wrong word in emails, blogs, exams, or social media posts. Unfortunately, using the wrong one can make your writing look careless or unprofessional.
This guide solves that confusion once and for all. You’ll get a quick answer, a deeper explanation of word origins, British vs American usage, common mistakes, real-life examples, and practical advice on which spelling you should use.
By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use more than and why more then is usually incorrect.
Quick Answer
More than is correct when making comparisons about number, amount, degree, or time.
More then is almost always wrong in standard English.
Correct examples:
- I have more than five years of experience.
- She earns more than her sister.
- The movie lasted more than two hours.
Incorrect example:
- ❌ I have more then five years of experience.
👉 In 99% of cases, “more than” is the right choice.
The Origin of More Than / More Then
The confusion comes from the words than and then, which have very different histories.
- Than comes from Old English þanne, used for comparisons.
- Then comes from Old English þænne, used for time and sequence.
Over centuries, their spellings became fixed, but pronunciation stayed similar in casual speech.
That similarity is the main reason people mix them up today. Importantly, “more then” never developed as a standard grammatical phrase, while “more than” became widely accepted in both spoken and written English.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no spelling difference between British and American English for this phrase.
| Aspect | British English | American English |
| Correct phrase | more than | more than |
| Incorrect phrase | more then | more then |
| Usage | Comparison of amount | Comparison of amount |
✅ Both varieties follow the same grammar rules.
❌ Neither accepts “more then” as correct.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose more than for all professional and casual writing.
- US audience: Always use more than
- UK & Commonwealth: Always use more than
- Global audience: Always use more than
There is no situation where more then is recommended for comparisons. If your goal is clarity and correctness, more than is the only safe option.
Common Mistakes with More Than or More Then
Here are frequent errors and how to fix them:
- ❌ More then 100 people attended
✅ More than 100 people attended - ❌ He is more then qualified
✅ He is more than qualified - ❌ This costs more then expected
✅ This costs more than expected
Tip:
If you can replace the phrase with “in comparison to”, use than, not then.
More Than or More Then in Everyday Examples
Emails
- Please submit the report if it’s more than two pages.
News
- The project created more than 1,000 jobs.
Social Media
- I waited more than an hour for this!
Formal Writing
- The study included more than 500 participants.
In all contexts—formal or informal—more than remains correct.
More Than or More Then – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search data consistently shows “more than” being used millions of times more often than “more then.”
- More than → High global usage (US, UK, India, Australia)
- More then → Mostly searched as a mistake-related query
This tells us users are not trying to use more then—they are checking whether it’s wrong. And yes, it usually is.
Comparison Table: More Than vs More Then
| Phrase | Correct? | Purpose | Example |
| More than | ✅ Yes | Comparison | More than 10 years |
| More then | ❌ No | Common mistake | ❌ More then 10 years |
FAQs:
1. Is “more then” ever correct?
No. Not for comparisons.
2. Why do people confuse than and then?
Because they sound similar in fast speech.
3. Can Grammarly or autocorrect catch this mistake?
Sometimes, but not always—manual checking is best.
4. Is “more than” formal or informal?
It works in both formal and informal writing.
5. Does British English allow “more then”?
No. It’s incorrect everywhere.
6. How can I remember the difference?
Than = comparison, Then = time.
7. Is “more than enough” correct?
Yes, completely correct.
Conclusion
The choice between more than or more then is actually very simple once you understand the rule. More than is the correct phrase for comparisons involving quantity, degree, time, or amount.
More then, on the other hand, is almost always a spelling mistake caused by pronunciation habits or typing errors.
There is no difference between British and American English here—both follow the same rule.
Using the correct phrase improves clarity, professionalism, and trust in your writing. Whether you’re writing an email, blog post, academic paper, or social media caption, choosing more than ensures your message sounds natural and correct.
A helpful trick is to remember that “than” compares, while “then” relates to time. If you keep that in mind, you’ll never mix them up again.
In short: when in doubt, choose more than—because it’s more than just correct, it’s essential for clear English.
Mark Nichol is a professional writer and grammar-focused content creator at Grammiffy, where he explains English usage, punctuation, and common writing mistakes in a clear and practical way.
With a reader-friendly approach, Mark helps digital learners improve sentence structure and everyday writing skills with confidence.
