NationStates Jolt Archive

I was wondering - why is it that some people confuse the words "than" and "then"? Is it because they speak with an accent in which these words sound very similar? And if so, what accent is it?

I was wondering - why is it that some people confuse the words "than" and "then"? Is it because they speak with an accent in which these words sound very similar? And if so, what accent is it?

Sri Lankan.

I used to think that too, but these days I speak/write english more than other languages combined, and I've been catching myself making just that mistake - and the 'their' one too, actually. So I dunno. Maybe some of us were dropped on the head early on?

I was wondering - why is it that some people confuse the words "than" and "then"? Is it because they speak with an accent in which these words sound very similar? And if so, what accent is it?

because English isn't our native language. it gets ever more confusing when you can translate both words in the same word (in Dutch and Danish it can be translated in 'dan'for instance).

I was wondering - why is it that some people confuse the words "than" and "then"?

It's because they're so stupid they can't even master English.

Sri Lankan.
To be fair, when I first encountered English spoken with a Sri Lankan accent I could only make out one in four words.

To be fair, when I first encountered English spoken with a Sri Lankan accent I could only make out one in four words.Sort of like talking to someone with an English accent then?

Я не знаю. Простите. :) Я плохо говорю по-русски.

It's because they're so stupid they can't even master English.

what about people with learning diffculties that havent mastered the difference are they stupid too

If English isn't your native tongue, you can be excused if you confuse the two. If it is you native tongue and you still haven't figured out the difference between the two words, you should be slapped upside the head.

what about people with learning diffculties that havent mastered the difference are they stupid too

No, they're lazy, kind of like people who don't capitalise and punctuate correctly. Learning difficulties aren't an excuse, they're a reason for working harder. Tough titties, but them's the apples.

No, I believe you're mistaken. People don't confuse the two, they substitute them. You see, THAN is at least twice as cool sounding as THEN.
You can't deny that logic.

what about people with learning diffculties that havent mastered the difference are they stupid too

Actually, yes, they are. To a direct, uncompassionate mind, retards are indeed too stupid to master language.

If English isn't your native tongue, you can be excused if you confuse the two. If it is you native tongue and you still haven't figured out the difference between the two words, you should be slapped upside the head.

Bolded for lawlz :p

what about people with learning diffculties that havent mastered the difference are they stupid too

Unless this is some definition of "stupid" that doesn't mean "lacking intelligence".

I was wondering - why is it that some people confuse the words "than" and "then"? Is it because they speak with an accent in which these words sound very similar? And if so, what accent is it?Laziness. Both are words that are learned early on. But even a considerable number of Americans can't distinguish the two. It's like its-it's, or their-there-they're, should-of instead of should-have, etc... just laziness.