Practice
More than or more then: which form is correct?
The repair took more than an hour. We finished the repair, then we tested the machine. The words than and then sound similar for some learners, but they do different jobs.
Use more than for a comparison or an amount above a number, and use then only when the sentence refers to time, order, or a result.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
more than /mɔr ðæn/
The short answer
Choose more than when the sentence compares one thing with another or says that an amount is above a number. Choose then when it means after that, at that time, or in that case. Do not use then inside a comparison.
The train journey took more than three hours.
Why it works: More than means above three hours. The sentence compares the actual time with that number.
5 more examples
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More than fifty people joined the online meeting.
The number of people was above fifty.
Not this:Fifty people joined first;
then the meetingreached its limit. What changes: Then shows the later event, not a comparison. -
I need more than a short summary before I decide.
The speaker needs something greater or fuller than a short summary.
Not this:Read the summary,
then decidewhether you need the full report. What changes: Then gives the next action in order. -
The new apartment costs more than our old one.
The cost of the new apartment is compared with the cost of the old apartment.
Not this:We visited the old apartment,
then the new one. What changes: Then puts the second visit after the first visit. -
She talks more than her brother does.
The sentence compares how much two people talk.
Not this:Her brother spoke,
then she answered. What changes: Then introduces the response that followed. -
The course gave me more than I expected.
The result is greater than the speaker's expectation.
Not this:I expected a short course;
then I sawthe full schedule. What changes: Then tells the reader what happened later.
Read the full guide
Check the relationship after more. If the sentence can mean above, greater than, or in addition to a stated amount, use than. If the sentence moves to the next action or gives a result, then may be right, but it has its own meaning and position.
Find the comparison
Use more than when one amount, quality, or action is greater than another. The word than introduces the second point in the comparison.
This suitcase weighs more than my backpack.
The suitcase and backpack are compared by weight.
Choose the comparison word: The room has more chairs ___ we need.
Use than: The room has more chairs than we need.
Use more than with numbers
Before a number, more than means above that number. The exact total may be unknown, but it is higher than the number you name.
More than 200 visitors came to the museum.
The number of visitors was above 200.
Complete the sentence: The flight lasted more ___ six hours.
Use than: The flight lasted more than six hours.
Compare an action or expectation
The comparison after more than does not have to be a number. It can compare actions, needs, or expectations. Read the entire phrase to see what is being measured or compared.
They worked more than they rested during the move.
The sentence compares the amount of working with the amount of resting.
Choose the form: The project required more time ___ I planned.
Use than: The project required more time than I planned.
Give then its time meaning
Then helps the listener follow time and order. It can mean after that, at that time, or in that case. It is not the word used to complete a comparison after more.
Save your work, then close the document.
Then puts closing the document after saving the work.
Put the steps in order: Check the address, ___ mail the package.
Use then: Check the address, then mail the package.
Keep both meanings in one sentence
A sentence may use more than and then together. More than makes the comparison. Then shows what happened next. Keep each word beside the part of the sentence it explains.
We needed more than one copy, then we sent the extras to the office.
More than one compares the number of copies with one. Then introduces the next action.
Which word introduces the later action in the example?
Then introduces the later action, sent the extras to the office.
Edit by meaning
If you write more then, pause and check the next words. If they name the second side of a comparison, change then to than. If you mean after that, rewrite the sentence so then has a clear time or order role.
The meal cost more than we expected.
We can replace more than with a phrase such as a higher amount than, so the comparison is clear.
Check the meaning: Does The meal cost more ___ we expected compare two amounts?
Yes. Use than because the actual cost is compared with the expected cost.
Before you go
Remember this
Use more than for an amount above something or for a comparison. Use then for time, order, or a result. When you see more, ask whether the next words provide a comparison. If they do, choose than.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "More than or more then: which form is correct?"
Is more than always followed by a number?
No. More than can compare numbers, amounts, actions, qualities, or expectations. In more than I expected, the phrase compares the real result with an expected result.
More than fifty people joined the online meeting.
Can then appear in the same sentence as more than?
Yes. Each word keeps its own job. For example, We needed more than one copy, then we printed the extras uses more than for a number comparison and then for the next action.
Fifty people joined first; then the meeting reached its limit.
Why is more then usually wrong?
In a comparison, the word after more must be than. Then refers to time, order, or a result, so it does not introduce the second side of a comparison.
I need more than a short summary before I decide.
Can I use over instead of more than with a number?
Over can also mean above a number in many contexts, such as over 200 visitors. More than is a clear choice when you want to make the comparison explicit. Check the style of the text you are writing when a formal document has a preferred form.
Read the summary, then decide whether you need the full report.
How can I proofread this phrase?
Read the words after more. If they give the amount, person, thing, or idea you are comparing with, use than. If you mean after that, place then where it clearly describes the next event or result.
The new apartment costs more than our old one.