Which is correct: rather then or rather than?
I'm always confused which I should use: "rather then" or "rather than". Could you please help me?
32 answers from our tutors
Best answer
Then indicates time. Than is used to introduce a second element in a comparison. E.g. I will eat breakfast THEN I will brush my teeth. The dog is friendlier THAN the cat.
Then : is commonly used to express a sense of time or something that follows another . Example :We are going to have lunch then we will go to the cinema. Than: is used to form a comparison between two things. Example :Travelling by train is much cheaper than travelling by plane. Rather than : is used to give more importance to one thing when 2 alternatives or preferences are being compared. Example : Can we come over on Saturday rather than Friday?
You use "rather than" rather than "rather then" in this situation (see what I did there?). Then indicates time and rather than means that you would do something more eagerly than a different thing. Example: "I would rather wash the dishes than talk to you". Than is after the noun here. Example of using then: "I washed the dishes, then took a walk".
Check your English level for free
Take our quick and free test to find out your current level of English
Start test
rather than - often mistakes are made as its written as its mispronounced- book a lesson with me to perfect British pronunciation
Rather Than is the correct answer. Then represents timing. Example, “Then I’m going to the park.”
it is rather than because rather then means in a later moment while as rather than is used to talk about objects
You want to use "Rather than" when comparing things. Then is used for time - "I took a walk and THEN I went to sleep."
The answer is rather than keep it up
rather than is use to compare two things.
You use rather than.
Other student questions
Best answer
My phone is flickering on and off while I am wobbling to go check on the clogged sink.
