5kidsforME Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 I am really good at getting it right with accept/except, your/you're, their/there/they're, etc. BUT then/than is my arch nemesis!! Everytime I type a post here or status on FB I am crossing my fingers hoping I picked the right one. Explain the difference please! Thanks. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvnlattes Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 The way I've explained it to my kids is that you use "then" when you talking about time or the order of things. We're going to sing Happy Birthday, then have birthday cake. You use "than" when you're comparing things. I'm taller than you are. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Think: thEn goes with timE thAn = > < (try to imagine a sideways "A" in less than/greater than signs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 My problem is with effect vs affect. There's a thread here somewhere that I started asking what the difference is of the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Think:thEn goes with timE thAn = > < (try to imagine a sideways "A" in less than/greater than signs) Perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1GirlTwinBoys Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 My problem is with effect vs affect. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvnlattes Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Think:thEn goes with timE thAn = > < (try to imagine a sideways "A" in less than/greater than signs) Much better explanation than my mish-mash :D . I'll have to share it with my kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5kidsforME Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share Posted December 14, 2011 The way I've explained it to my kids is that you use "then" when you talking about time or the order of things. We're going to sing Happy Birthday, then have birthday cake. You use "than" when you're comparing things. I'm taller than you are. HTH. Think:thEn goes with timE thAn = > < (try to imagine a sideways "A" in less than/greater than signs) Perfect! Now I just have to remember these hints. :tongue_smilie: So thEN is order of things, and thAn is comparing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Think:thEn goes with timE thAn = > < (try to imagine a sideways "A" in less than/greater than signs) Also: thEn is like whEn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 (edited) My problem is with effect vs affect. There's a thread here somewhere that I started asking what the difference is of the two. Gotta edit out my previous advice and excuse myself as being too sleepy. :001_huh: :lol::lol::lol: (I'm glad that at 3am I can still laugh at myself!) Edited December 14, 2011 by sunflowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Since English is not my first language, I love finding hints for myself that remind me of proper spelling of similar words. I couldn't come up with anything great for these two words, but this is what worked for me. Think of the first letters of these words. *E*ffect. *A*ffect. *E*ffect is the v*E*rb. The most commonly used verb in the homonym family is affect, as in My vacation won't affect your work schedule at all. The noun that is commonly confused with affect (v) is effect (n), as in My vacation will have no effect on your work schedule. A rarely used verb is effect, as in You many not effect any workplace changes in the new year until I return from vacation. A rarely used noun is affect, as in When you see the tan from my vacation, your jealousy may cause you to greet me with a muted affect. See a nice mnemonic explanation at http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx I should go to bed now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 The most commonly used verb in the homonym family is affect, as in My vacation won't affect your work schedule at all. The noun that is commonly confused with affect (v) is effect (n), as in My vacation will have no effect on your work schedule. A rarely used verb is effect, as in You many not effect any workplace changes in the new year until I return from vacation. A rarely used noun is affect, as in When you see the tan from my vacation, your jealousy may cause you to greet me with a muted affect. See a nice mnemonic explanation at http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx I should go to bed now. Gosh, that's wasn't a good example :lol::lol::lol: (Laughing at myself hysterically here). My only excuse that it is 3AM here. Another excuse, I clearly want the confused WTMer to be even more confused, as I actually somehow don't confuse 'affect' with 'effect' when I write :lol::lol: Sorry, ignore all my spelling advice from now on! :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Then = time Than = comparison Effect = noun Affect = verb Roughly. The special effects were scary to some, but it didn't affect me much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 My problem is with effect vs affect. There's a thread here somewhere that I started asking what the difference is of the two. Then goes with when. Affect is an action. Valerie mentioned a few valid exceptions to affect/effect, but you will be fine with the above in unless you tryin' to get all fancy ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 When? Then. Then, "than" is the other one. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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