Then vs. Than?

WeaselFire · May 25, 2012

This bugging me because the last three ebooks I've read have had this type of sentence:

"More fun then a barrel of monkeys."

Instead of:

"More fun than a barrel of monkeys."

Is it really due to bad copy editing/proofreading or is there a difference between the Queen's English and that slop we speak here in the US? Like whether a company is singular or plural.

Thanks,

Jeff

Torgo · May 25, 2012

Nope, it is a flat-out error.

WildScribe · May 25, 2012

Bad copywriting. It is indeed "than" even here in the lazy US of A.

FalconMage · May 25, 2012

Someone went on a rant about this a little while back.

You're right about the usage, and it's a lazy, lazy error to make, and to let through to publication.

Lissibith · May 25, 2012

And now my mind's reading the incorrect sentence literally. "So, first they had more fun. And after that, they found a barrel of monkeys? What an exciting day!"

Snick · May 25, 2012

Unless they had more fun first, then they had a barrel of monkeys you re correct, and the copy editor should be chided.

Once! · May 25, 2012

I think the first sentence comes from the same circle of hell as "would of". Standing somewhere between "could of" and "should of".

I blame spell-checkers. Mind you, my heart once leapt at the sight of a pubic footpath.

BethS · May 25, 2012

Once! said:
Mind you, my heart once leapt at the sight of a pubic footpath.

Well, folks do get fancy with razors and wax these days...

Elijah Sydney · May 25, 2012

WeaselFire said:
"More fun then a barrel of monkeys."

I would of preferred that then the second one cause I like the affect.

What? Why are you looking at me like that?

Then vs. Than?

WeaselFire

Benefactor Member

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

WildScribe

Slave to the Wordcount

FalconMage

Lissibith

On target

Snick

Once!

Still confused by shoelaces

BethS

Elijah Sydney

Delusional and loving it