[Grammar] "that" Vs "than"

[Eddy]

Lately I have seen a handful of authors using 'that' when I would have expected 'than' to be used. They are not interchangeable to my thinking and don't infer the same meaning. Am I missing something?

[sat8997]

Can you provide a few examples so we can see the context?

[Nephylim]

Have to admit that I can't think of any circumstances where they are interchangable but.... yeah.. give us context... maybe there is.

[KJames]

I think a more common abuse is the Than/Then misuse. I've seen several instances both in postings and in stories where some things such as the following are presented:

 

I prefer walking to the store more then riding my bike there.

 

She would walk here than go to the store.

 

Elecivil on Codeysworld.com made a wonderful post on one of the forums there having to do with common errors in writing, with those errors in the form of the written rule being given example--it was an absolutely brilliant way of illustrating the problem!

[TalonRider]

That's one error you won't find very often with one of my authors.

 

In Article 7 USAGE, we have this.

 

Then/than

 

 

[Eddy]

[KJames]

That's one error you won't find very often with one of my authors.

 

In Article 7 USAGE, we have this.

 

Then/than

 

 

[Krista]

"Then" and "Than" misuse is a pet peeve of mine. More so than, "You're" and "Your"..

[TalonRider]

Another common mistake is the commonly confused words, its and it's. When it happens a lot, I tell the author the easiest way to figure out which to use is to say it is to themselves. If it works, then use it's.

[sat8997]

I have tried to find an example from a story but have not found one yet. Using the above as examples - substituting 'than' with "that" in the 4th line would be a good example.

 

I'm thinking it is just bad usage and lacking editing.

 

You're probably right.

[C James]

Another common mistake is the commonly confused words, its and it's. When it happens a lot, I tell the author the easiest way to figure out which to use is to say it is to themselves. If it works, then use it's.

 

That's a good rule.

 

One other aspect is that the author should also see if "it has" fits, because that, too, would be contracted as "it's".

[Conner]

That's a good rule.

 

One other aspect is that the author should also see if "it has" fits, because that, too, would be contracted as "it's".

 

Nice try, CJ. Remember, you're an author, not an editor.

 

So, "It's four legs." means "It has four legs." I dunno 'bout that.

[C James]

Nice try, CJ. Remember, you're an author, not an editor.

 

So, "It's four legs." means "It has four legs." I dunno 'bout that.

 

So I can't say it's been good to have this discussion?

 

Granted, there are times when the contraction would be awkward, but, from the following grammar page;

http://www.stormloader.com/garyes/its.html

 

A simple test

 

If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.

 

Wikepedia agrees, as do several other grammar resources.

 

Now, goat-buddy, you were saying something about Editors vs. authors?

Even authors can be right on occasion, ya know. :P

[Conner]

I hate it when I'm wrong.

[TalonRider]

Thanks CJ, that's one combination I hadn't thought of.

[DragonFire]

I just thank Microsoft for Word, it picks up these errors before anyone can see them. Though it is annoying and frustrating in other grammer checks! Fragment sentance!!

I have to say I'm pretty good when it comes to its and it's, or then and than. My editor has a dig at my comma usage, or lack thereof. Or present tense will creep into something that's in past. As much as I try, something always worms its way in.

[KJames]

Nice try, CJ. Remember, you're an author, not an editor.

 

So, "It's four legs." means "It has four legs." I dunno 'bout that.

 

 

I'm sure the example he meant to use was, "It's been done."

[David McLeod]

I just thank Microsoft for Word, it picks up these errors before anyone can see them. Though it is annoying and frustrating in other grammer checks! Fragment sentance!!

I have to say I'm pretty good when it comes to its and it's, or then and than. My editor has a dig at my comma usage, or lack thereof. Or present tense will creep into something that's in past. As much as I try, something always worms its way in.

 

One of the hardest things, IMO, is deciding where to use commas. There are places they must be used (e.g., parenthetical expressions without the parentheses) and places they must not be used (e.g., to separate a subject from its verb with a single comma). They are useful for indicating a place we (authors, that is) want the reader to pause, but they can, thereby, distract the reader, too. My general rule is to eliminate as many as possible in order not to interrupt the flow of the story.