Then/than

[Slytovhand]

Sorry guys, I've got to confess, it really shits me to read something and those 2 words get mixed up.

It's easy, isn't it??

'Then' is time based.

'Than' is a comparision between two (or more) things.

Is it really that hard??

I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.....

[AFPheonix]

I think to/two/too are more basic and therefore that much more annoying to me when people screw those up.

[Antipsych]

I agree completely, Slytovhand, seeing "than" and "then" mixed up constantly grates on my nerves too. And the problem seems to get worse as time goes on. Are American schools really so bad that they're allowing more and more semi-literate people to graduate each year? Or has America been "dumbed down" to the point that nobody cares about spelling anymore? Or both? It certainly seems that way.

*Antipsych climbs up onto his soapbox for a minute* I have news for those who think spelling doesn't matter - you appear illiterate to your fellow humans who are forced to read your writing! If I were in charge of hiring for a company, I wouldn't even think about employing someone whose spelling is terrible - it makes him or her seem stupid! *Steps down* Thank you, thank you very much for your time.

[LadyBarbossa]

You're definitely not alone! It's right up there with your/you're, their/there/they're. Other ones that I've been seeing pop up a lot are know/no mix-ups. I mean, really!

[Boozy]

Then/than doesn't bother me as much as to/two/too or no/know, probably because the latter are much more jarring. It takes me a second to decipher a sentence that has a misuse of those words.

[Slytovhand]

I think what really gets my goat about then/than, is that I'm presuming that the person just doesn't actually know that they're getting it wrong. Whereas, I presume that to/2/too or no/know, is an attempt at shorthand... annoying, nonetheless.

Antipych - it isn't just an American thing, it's over here as well. I'd put it down to sms's, where ppl are just learning to cut corners more and more. Then/than doesn't have that excuse. (still wanna hit them in the head, though )

[ArcticChicken]

Whereas, I presume that to/2/too or no/know, is an attempt at shorthand... annoying, nonetheless.

The problem with that assumption is that I've seen people use "know" when they meant "no".

[Slytovhand]

oh.... crap........<sigh>

[otakuneko]

if (spelling == 0) than
printf("My brain is smaller then yours!");

[Devilboy]

I'd put it down to sms's, where ppl are just learning to cut corners more and more.

i c wat u did their