Why "greater then" is less than perfect: a grammar insight

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 30/09/2024, 00:28

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Greater then or greater than. What's correct?

Spelling/Grammar Error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse the spelling of "than" and "then" due to their similar pronunciation, especially in casual writing or speech. "Than" is used in comparisons, while "then" refers to time or sequence.

What is correct?

"Greater than" is the correct phrase when making comparisons between two entities to indicate that one is larger or more significant than the other.

Examples of correct usage

The company's profits this quarter are greater than last quarter.
Five is greater than three.
His reputation is greater than his actual achievements.