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Description
While most writers have little or no trouble distinguishing the two similar words then and than, there are some that frequently confuse them.  That is, ‘then’ is often or always used by some in place of ‘than’.

Then is the adverb that describes a point in time. You might use it to refer to a time already mentioned, in the same way as one might use a pronoun in place of a name.

Andrew went to university in 1996.  He was eighteen then.

Whilst this is not a very interesting sentence, and would need touching up if it were to be used in fiction, it serves its purpose for this guide.

You might also use ‘then’ to mean ‘after that’.

We had dinner, and then we went to see a film.

There are a few other uses for the word ‘then’, as most good dictionaries will attest, and most people know what these are.  This being the case, I shan’t go into any more detail on ‘then’, for the problem comes when one is tempted to use the word in place of ‘than’.

Than is the conjunction used to introduce the second member of a comparison.

My cat is more playful than your cat.

My poodle is fluffier than your poodle.

Though I am about to complicate things, I do say that it is as simple as that.  Do not use ‘then’ for sentences such as these.

Further Points on ‘Than’

This is where it starts to get unnecessarily complicated for such a small word.  The main purpose of this guide has already been covered, as arguably the most important issue relating to the word has been addressed.  The following points, however, are worth looking at.

You will notice that, in the two examples above, one of the adjectives has a comparative form: fluffy/fluffier.  The other does not: playful becomes more playful.  In some ways, this is a separate issue, but it is (almost?) always something to be aware of when using ‘than’.  Some adjectives have comparative and superlative* forms, and others do not.  Most of us know which do and which do not, simply from learning to speak English.  If, however, you find that you are not sure about a particular adjective, I can only recommend that you look it up.

Another point to consider is one of grammar.

Using the first of the two examples above, the sentence could continue, ‘My cat is more playful than your cat is.’  Grammatically, it is strictly speaking correct for both nouns to appear in the nominative case.  However, an Oxford dictionary published long before I was born (in 1985, if you must know), assures me that it has become acceptable for the second object to be used in the accusative case.

But let me simplify, using pronouns, which - unlike common nouns (and, indeed, proper nouns) can change depending upon their position in the sentence.**

Where the second pronoun appears in the nominative case:

I am much more beautiful than she.

Where the second pronoun appears in the accusative case:

I am much more beautiful than her.

The difference is minimal, and for many if not most people, it is probably more usual to take the second option.  As I said, my dictionary claims that this is acceptable, though I would argue it is not preferable if you want to be strictly accurate.  Either way, it is certainly something to think about, especially when writing dialogue.  How much of a grammar Nazi is your character?

* The difference between comparative and superlative is essentially the difference between more and most.  A superlative adjective ends with ‘(i)est’, for example, fluffiest.

** There are exceptions, of course; ‘it’, ‘one’ and ‘you’ do not change.  But you knew that.