Quick answer: The correct phrase is more than when you’re comparing quantities or expressing “in addition to.” More then is almost always incorrect in modern English, though it can appear in very specific time-sequence contexts that most writers never need.
These two phrases trip up writers constantly because they sound identical when spoken aloud. I’ve corrected “more then” in countless resumes, business emails, and student essays where the writer meant “more than.” The confusion stems from mixing up two different grammatical functions: comparison versus time sequence.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| More than | Used for comparisons of quantity, degree, or to mean “in addition to” | She has more than ten years of experience in digital marketing. |
| More then | Only correct when “then” functions as a time adverb following “more” (extremely rare) | First we’ll order supplies, and more then will arrive next week. (awkward and uncommon) |
When to use “more than”
More than is the phrase you need 99% of the time. It serves two primary functions in English: comparing quantities and expressing something beyond a certain limit or in addition to something else.
According to Wikipedia’s entry on “Than”, this word functions as a conjunction or preposition used specifically for making comparisons. When you pair it with “more,” you’re creating a comparative structure that shows one thing exceeds another in amount, degree, or intensity.
Use more than when:
- Comparing two quantities: “The project cost more than we budgeted.”
- Expressing “in addition to” or “beyond”: “She is more than qualified for this position.”
- Showing degree or intensity: “I’m more than happy to help you with that report.”
- Indicating a number or amount exceeded: “More than 500 people attended the conference.”
Here are real-world examples I see in my editing work:
- Email mistake: “I have more then five references available upon request.” → Correction: “I have more than five references available upon request.”
- Resume error: “Managed a team of more then 20 employees.” → Correction: “Managed a team of more than 20 employees.”
- Text message: “This will take more then an hour.” → Correction: “This will take more than an hour.”
The phrase appears constantly in professional writing. When you’re writing a LinkedIn bio, you might say, “I’ve worked with more than 100 clients across various industries.” In a cover letter, you could write, “This role offers more than just a competitive salary—it provides growth opportunities.” In academic writing, you might state, “The study included more than 1,000 participants.”
The key is recognizing that whenever you’re dealing with amounts, comparisons, or the idea of “beyond” or “in addition to,” you need more than. This is non-negotiable in standard English.
When to use “more then”
Here’s the honest truth: you almost never need more then. I’ve been editing professional content for over fifteen years, and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve encountered a legitimate, correct use of “more then” that couldn’t be rephrased more clearly.
The only scenario where more then could theoretically be correct is when “then” functions as a time adverb meaning “at that time” or “next,” and it happens to follow the word “more” in a sentence. However, this construction is so awkward and rare that most style guides would recommend rewriting the sentence entirely.
For example, a grammatically possible but clumsy sentence might be: “We ordered more, then waited for delivery.” But notice that “then” here isn’t really paired with “more”—it’s connecting two sequential actions. This isn’t the phrase “more then” functioning as a unit; it’s just two words that happen to appear next to each other.
According to Wikipedia’s entry on “Then”, this word primarily functions as an adverb relating to time, sequence, or consequence. It’s used to indicate what happens next or at a specific time, not to make comparisons.
You might see more then in these extremely rare contexts:
- In archaic or poetic writing where word order is intentionally unusual
- In very specific time-sequence constructions (though these are almost always better rephrased)
- As a typo or error (which is what it is 99.9% of the time)
Let me show you what I mean with examples from my editing desk:
- Business proposal error: “We need more then just a basic package.” → Correction: “We need more than just a basic package.”
- Student essay mistake: “The results showed more then a slight improvement.” → Correction: “The results showed more than a slight improvement.”
- Social media post: “I want more then this in my career.” → Correction: “I want more than this in my career.”
Every single one of these examples shows someone confusing the comparison word “than” with the time word “then.” This is one of the most common errors I correct, and it instantly signals to readers (especially hiring managers, clients, or professors) that the writer may lack attention to detail.
If you’re ever tempted to write “more then,” stop and ask yourself: am I comparing quantities or expressing “beyond”? If yes, you need more than. Am I talking about time sequence? If yes, you probably need to restructure your sentence because “more then” as a phrase is almost certainly wrong.
How to remember the difference
Here’s the memory trick that has saved my clients from embarrassment in job applications and important documents: THAN has an A, and so does COMPARE.
When you’re making a comparison—which is what “more than” does—you need the word with an A in it. Simple as that.
Another effective trick: THEN has an E, and so does TIME. If you’re talking about when something happens or what happens next, use “then.” But remember, you’re almost never pairing “more” with time sequence, so you almost never need “more then.”
Here’s a practical test I teach my editing clients:
Replace “more” with “less” in your sentence. If the sentence still makes grammatical sense, you need than, not then.
- “She has more than five years of experience.” → “She has less than five years of experience.” ✓ Makes sense, so use than.
- “I want more then success.” → “I want less then success.” ✗ Doesn’t work, confirming you need than, not then.
You can also try substituting “in addition to” or “beyond.” If either phrase fits your sentence, you definitely need more than:
- “This job is more than just a paycheck.” → “This job is beyond just a paycheck.” ✓ Works perfectly.
- “We received more than 200 applications.” → “We received in addition to 200 applications.” ✓ The meaning holds.
Here’s an editor-level insight that goes beyond basic grammar rules: when you’re writing quickly, your brain is focused on meaning, not spelling. The sound of “than” and “then” is identical in most English dialects, so your spell-checker won’t catch this error. The only way to prevent it is to build a mental pause whenever you type “more th—” and consciously choose the right ending based on whether you’re comparing (A for compare) or sequencing in time (E for time).
I keep a sticky note on my monitor that says “A = Compare, E = Time” and it’s saved me from countless embarrassing typos in client work.
Common mistakes and exceptions
The most common mistake I see is using more then in professional contexts where precision matters most. Job seekers write “I have more then seven years of experience” in their cover letters, and hiring managers immediately question their attention to detail. Business professionals send emails to clients saying “This will cost more then we estimated,” undermining their credibility. Students submit essays with “The data shows more then a correlation,” and professors deduct points for careless errors.
These aren’t just typos—they’re signals. In competitive situations where you’re being evaluated, this error suggests you didn’t proofread carefully or don’t have a strong grasp of written English.
Here’s a specific exception worth noting, though it’s vanishingly rare: in older English texts or very formal philosophical writing, you might encounter constructions where “more” and “then” appear together but aren’t functioning as a phrase. For example: “We discussed the matter more, then adjourned the meeting.” But notice that “then” here is connecting two separate clauses, not forming the phrase “more then.” Modern style guides would likely recommend a comma before “then” in such cases, making it clear these are separate words serving different functions.
Another edge case: in informal text messages or social media, some writers intentionally use “more then” as a stylistic choice or to convey a specific tone. However, this is non-standard and should never appear in formal writing, academic work, or professional communication.
US versus UK English doesn’t create any difference here—both varieties use more than for comparisons and quantities. This is one grammar rule that’s consistent across all English dialects.
What does vary is how strictly people proofread. In my experience, American business writing tends to be slightly more formal and error-intolerant than British casual communication, but neither dialect accepts “more then” as correct for comparisons.
One more exception that catches people: when “then” is used as an adjective meaning “current” or “at that time,” as in “the then president.” But you would never say “more then president” because it makes no sense. This confirms that more then simply doesn’t function as a standard phrase in English.
The bottom line: if you’re writing anything formal—resumes, cover letters, business emails, academic papers, client proposals, published articles—always use more than for comparisons and quantities. Treat “more then” as a red flag that requires immediate correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “more then” ever correct in any situation?
Technically, “more then” could appear in a sentence where “then” functions as a time adverb separate from “more,” such as “We talked more, then left.” However, this isn’t the phrase “more then” working together—it’s two independent words. For all practical purposes in modern writing, more than is the only correct choice when these words appear together.
Why do so many people confuse “more than” and “more then”?
The words sound identical when spoken, and autocorrect doesn’t catch the error because both “than” and “then” are real words. Additionally, many people learned grammar rules through osmosis rather than explicit instruction, so they haven’t internalized the distinction between comparison words (than) and time words (then).
Can I use “more then” in creative writing or poetry?
While creative writing allows more flexibility with language, using “more then” when you mean “more than” will still read as an error to most educated readers. If you’re deliberately archaizing your language or experimenting with unconventional syntax, make sure that choice serves a clear artistic purpose. Otherwise, stick with standard usage to avoid distracting your readers.
How do I proofread for this specific error?
Use your word processor’s “Find” function to search for “more then” in your document. Every single instance should be changed to “more than” unless you’ve constructed a highly unusual time-sequence sentence (which you should probably rewrite anyway). I also recommend reading your writing aloud slowly—sometimes hearing the words helps your brain catch errors your eyes skip over.
Kevin Sanchez holds a Master’s degree in English Linguistics from the University of California, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for the intricacies of language. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Kevin specializes in the nuances of English spelling, particularly the evolution of spelling conventions over time. His fascination with how English words have transformed through cultural and technological influences led him to become a prominent voice at SpellRightDaily. Kevin produces content focused on historical spelling variations and their contemporary implications, offering readers insightful comparisons of British and American English. Beyond this, Kevin has a keen interest in educating readers about the rules that govern standard spelling and the exceptions that often lead to confusion. His articles frequently feature tips for mastering complex spelling patterns and understanding the etymology of perplexing words. Kevin’s dedication to clarity and accessibility makes his contributions invaluable to both casual readers and English language professionals.