Other Than or Other Then: Which Is Correct?

Other Than or Other Then is a common English usage question that confuses many writers.

“Other than” means “except” or “besides,” while “other then” is usually incorrect when used in this context.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between these expressions and how to use them correctly.

Other Than or Other Then can be confusing because the words than and then sound similar. However, they have different meanings.

Other than means “except” or “besides,” while then refers to a time or what happens next. Learn how to use each word correctly with simple examples.

Is it other than or other then? These phrases look and sound similar, so it is easy to mix them up when writing. However, they do not have the same meaning.

Other than is the correct phrase when you mean except for, apart from, or different from. For example, “Other than English, she speaks Spanish.”

The phrase other then is generally a spelling mistake when someone intends to use “other than.” The confusion happens because than and then look alike but serve different purposes.

In this guide, you will learn when to use other than, why other then is usually incorrect, and how to remember the difference.

Quick Answer: Other Than vs Other Then

Other than is correct when you mean “except for,” “apart from,” or “different from.” Other then is generally incorrect when used with this meaning.

Examples:

Correct: Other than Monday, I am available every day.
Incorrect: Other then Monday, I am available every day.

Remember that than is commonly used for comparisons and in expressions such as “other than,” while then usually refers to time, sequence, or a result.

What Does Other Than Mean?

The phrase other than means except for, apart from, or different from something already mentioned. Cambridge Dictionary recognizes these uses of the phrase.

You can use it to identify an exception, mention a different option, or explain that something is not the same as another thing.

Examples of Other Than

Other than Sarah, everyone attended the meeting.
I have no hobbies other than reading.
We need a solution other than waiting.
Nothing other than hard work will help you improve.
Do you speak any language other than English?

In each sentence, “other than” introduces an exception or something different from the item mentioned.

What Does Other Then Mean?

Other then is not the standard phrase for expressing “except for” or “apart from.” In most sentences where writers use it, they actually mean other than.

For example:

Incorrect: I enjoy every subject other then math.
Correct: I enjoy every subject other than math.

However, the individual words other and then can appear next to each other in a sentence when they have separate grammatical roles. The issue is not that these two words can never appear together; it is that “other then” is not the usual expression for excluding something.

For example:

We discussed other options, then chose the cheapest one.

Here, “other” describes “options,” and “then” introduces the next action. The sentence is correct because the words perform separate jobs.

Other Than vs Other Then: Key Differences

Feature	Other Than	Other Then
Standard phrase for “except for”	Yes	No
Common meaning	Except for, apart from, different from	No standard meaning as a fixed phrase
Grammar	Commonly used as a phrase or preposition	Can occur accidentally when separate words belong to different parts of a sentence
Example	Everyone came other than Mark.	We considered other options, then left.

The key is to examine the meaning of the sentence rather than choosing a spelling based only on sound.

When Should You Use Other Than?

Use other than in these common situations.

1. To Mean Except For

Use it when you want to exclude a person or thing from a group.

Examples:

Everyone passed the test other than Jake.
I eat all vegetables other than mushrooms.
No one called me other than my brother.

In these examples, “other than” identifies an exception.

2. To Mean Apart From

Use it when you want to mention something in addition to, or separate from, what has already been discussed.

Examples:

Other than my salary, I have no regular income.
Other than the noise, the hotel was comfortable.
What do you do other than study?

The exact interpretation depends on the sentence, but “other than” often introduces something apart from the main subject.

3. To Mean Different From

Use it when discussing an alternative or something that is not the same.

Examples:

We need another plan other than this one.
Is there a way to contact her other than email?
He wanted a career other than teaching.

These sentences refer to an alternative rather than the option already mentioned.

Then vs Than: How to Remember the Difference

The confusion between “other than” and “other then” often starts with mixing up the words than and then.

Than

Than is commonly used in comparisons and phrases such as “other than.”

Examples:

My car is faster than yours.
She is taller than her brother.
I have no choice other than to wait.

Then

Then usually refers to time, order, or a result.

Examples:

We ate dinner, then watched a movie.
Finish your homework, then go outside.
If it rains, then we will stay home.

Easy Memory Trick

Remember this simple rule:

Than = comparison or exception.
Then = time, sequence, or result.

If you mean “except for,” use other than.

If you are describing what happens next, use then.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few mistakes to watch for when writing.

Incorrect	Correct	Why?
I like every fruit other then apples.	I like every fruit other than apples.	“Other than” introduces an exception.
No one other then Mia knew.	No one other than Mia knew.	The phrase means “except for Mia.”
Is there another option other then this?	Is there another option other than this?	“Than” introduces the alternative.
We discussed other choices, than went home.	We discussed other choices, then went home.	“Then” shows the next action.

A useful proofreading tip is to replace the phrase with “except for.” If the sentence still makes sense, other than is probably the right choice.

Practice Quiz: Other Than or Other Then

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

Everyone arrived on time ________ Daniel.
I prefer tea ________ coffee.
We finished lunch and ________ went shopping.
Is there another way to solve this problem ________ asking for help?
She studied for an hour, ________ took a break.
No one ________ my teacher knew the answer.

Answers

Other than — Daniel is the exception.
Other than — The phrase introduces a different option.
Then — It shows the next action.
Other than — It introduces an alternative.
Then — It shows the order of events.
Other than — It identifies the only exception.

FAQs

1. Is other than or other then correct?

Other than is correct when you mean “except for,” “apart from,” or “different from.” “Other then” is generally a mistake when used with those meanings.

2. What does other than mean?

It means “except for,” “apart from,” or “different from,” depending on the context. For example, “Other than Sam, everyone agreed.”

3. Why is other then incorrect?

It is incorrect when used as a substitute for “other than” because then usually refers to time, sequence, or a result, not an exception.

4. Can other and then appear together in a sentence?

Yes. The words can appear next to each other when they have separate roles. For example, “We considered other options, then made a decision.” Here, “other” describes options, and “then” shows what happened next.

5. What is the difference between than and then?

“Than” is used in comparisons and phrases such as “other than.” “Then” refers to time, sequence, or a result.

6. Is other than formal or informal?

“Other than” is used in both formal and informal English. It is suitable for everyday conversations, school assignments, emails, and professional writing.

7. Can I start a sentence with other than?

Yes. For example, “Other than the weather, everything was perfect.” This construction is natural and grammatically correct.

8. Is other than the same as except for?

Often, yes. For example, “Everyone came other than Alex” has essentially the same meaning as “Everyone came except for Alex.”

9. How can I remember other than?

Remember that “other than” often means “except for.” If that replacement makes sense, you probably need “than,” not “then.”

10. Is other then ever correct?

The words may appear together when they have separate grammatical roles, but “other then” is not the standard expression meaning “except for” or “apart from.”

Conclusion

When choosing between other than or other then, use other than to mean “except for,” “apart from,” or “different from.”

Use then when you are talking about time, order, or what happens next. For example, “Everyone came other than Alex” is correct, while “We ate dinner, then watched a movie” uses “then” correctly.

Keep this simple rule in mind: other than = except for; then = next or at that time. With this distinction, you can avoid a common spelling mistake and write more confidently.