Other Than or Other Then: Which One Is Correct?

Last updated: September 24, 2026

You’re typing a message, an email, or a school essay. You get to the part where you want to say “except for” and your fingers stall. Is it “other than” or “other then”? They look almost the same, and autocorrect won’t always save you.

Here’s the short answer. “Other than” is the correct phrase. It means “except,” “besides,” or “apart from.” “Other then” is almost always a typo. The only time you’ll see those two words side by side is in a rare case where “other” and “then” belong to different parts of the sentence.

The question “other than or other then” comes up because “than” and “then” sound alike when we talk fast. In this guide, you’ll learn what each one really means, why people swap them, how to tell them apart in two seconds, and how to use “other than” in real sentences without second-guessing yourself.

Other Than or Other Then: The Quick Answer

Use “other than” when you mean “except for,” “besides,” or “not counting.” That’s the phrase you want 99 out of 100 times.

Here’s a simple example: “I don’t eat anything other than pizza on Fridays.” You’re saying pizza is the only thing you eat. Swap in “except for” and the sentence still works.

Now look at the wrong version: “I don’t eat anything other then pizza on Fridays.” That one has a spelling error. Nothing in the sentence is about time or order, so “then” has no job to do there.

Think of it this way:

• Than compares things or shows exclusion.
• Then talks about time or what happens next.

“Other than” is about exclusion. That’s why it wins.

What Does “Other Than” Mean?

“Other than” is a phrase that means “except,” “apart from,” or “different from.” It points to the one thing you’re leaving out of a statement.

You’ll hear it in daily talk all the time. “Other than the food, the trip was great.” “Nobody other than Sam knew the password.” “She didn’t say anything other than hello.”

It works like a small filter. You make a big statement, then use “other than” to carve out the exception.

Other Than as a Preposition

Most of the time, “other than” acts like a preposition. It sits in front of a noun or a pronoun and shows what’s being excluded.

• Other than the noise, the hotel was fine.
• No one other than me has the key.
• What can we do other than wait?

In each case, you could replace “other than” with “except” or “besides” and keep the meaning.

Other Than in Negative Sentences

This is where the phrase shows up most. Words like “nothing,” “no one,” “nobody,” “none,” and “never” love to team up with “other than.”

• I have nothing other than this old laptop.
• No one other than the manager can approve it.
• She never talks about anything other than football.

If you spot a negative word earlier in the sentence, “other than” is very likely the right choice.

Other Than That

You’ve probably heard “other than that” a hundred times in group chats. It’s a casual way to say “apart from that” or “but besides that.”

Someone asks, “How was your weekend?” You reply, “Good. Other than the flat tyre, nothing happened.”

Or in a text: “Other than that, all good. What about you?”

It’s short, friendly, and totally correct.

Other Than in the “Different From” Sense

Sometimes “other than” means “different from” or “anything but.” It’s a bit more formal, and it’s common in writing.

• He is nothing other than honest. (He is completely honest.)
• The result was other than expected. (The result was different from what people expected.)

You won’t need this version often in texts, but you’ll spot it in news articles and essays.

What Does “Other Then” Mean?

“Other then” is not a standard phrase in English. In most cases, it’s a spelling mistake for “other than.”

Google searches for “other then” spike because people type fast and let the wrong word slip through. Spellcheck rarely catches it, since both “than” and “then” are real words.

So does “other then” ever work? Yes, but only when the two words aren’t a pair. They just happen to sit next to each other. Here’s when that can happen.

When “Other” and “Then” Are Separate

In these sentences, “other” is describing something, and “then” is talking about time. They’re neighbors, not partners.

• Take one pill now, and the other, then after dinner. (Here “the other” is one unit, and “then” marks the time.)
• Some guests left early. Other, then-unknown visitors arrived later. (Rare and clunky, but the words do different jobs.)

Honestly, these are rare and awkward. If you’re not sure, rewrite the sentence.

The “Then-” Prefix Case

There’s one more legit use. “Then” can act like a small adjective meaning “at that time,” usually with a hyphen: the then-president, the then-manager, the then-current rules.

So you might see: “The other then-candidates all dropped out.” Here “other” describes the candidates, and “then-” tells you when they were candidates.

Again, that’s uncommon. For everyday writing, you can safely think of “other then” as wrong.

Why People Mix Up Other Than and Other Then

Most people don’t get this wrong because they don’t know grammar. They get it wrong because the words sound nearly identical.

Here are the main reasons:

• They sound alike. In fast speech, “than” and “then” both come out as a soft, quick sound.
• Typing speed. Your thumbs beat your brain on a phone keyboard.
• Autocorrect doesn’t flag it. Both words are real, so no red line shows up.
• Regional accents. In some accents, the vowel sounds blend together, which makes spelling by ear harder.
• The “then” habit. We use “then” so often in stories and instructions that it sneaks into places it doesn’t belong.

If you’ve made this mistake, you’re in good company. Even careful writers catch it during a proofread.

Other Than vs Other Then: Comparison Table

This table sums up how the two phrases behave.

If the “except” swap works, you want “other than.” Simple as that.

Real Sentence Examples

Seeing the phrase in action makes it stick. Here are correct sentences, followed by the same sentences written the wrong way.

Everyday Conversations

• “Do you need anything other than milk from the shop?”
• “I don’t have any plans other than sleeping.”
• “Other than the ending, I loved that show.”
• “He doesn’t text anyone other than his sister.”

At School and Work

• “All students other than the seniors must attend the assembly.”
• “Please submit the form to no one other than HR.”
• “There’s no way to finish this other than working late.”
• “The report was fine other than a few typos.”

On Social Media

• “Other than my phone, I lost nothing. Still stressed.”
• “Nobody other than you understands this meme.”
• “What else can I do other than laugh?”

What the Wrong Version Looks Like

• ❌ “I don’t have any plans other then sleeping.”
• ❌ “Other then the ending, I loved that show.”
• ❌ “All students other then the seniors must attend.”

Each of these should use “than.” The meaning is exclusion, not time.

When “Then” Is Actually Right Nearby

Just to show the contrast, here’s a sentence where “then” is correct but “other” sits close by:

• “Try the first option. If that fails, then try any other.”

See the difference? “Then” here shows the order of steps. It has nothing to do with excluding something. That’s the split you’re looking for.

Easy Tricks to Remember the Difference

You don’t need a grammar textbook. These quick tricks work in real life.

The Swap Test

Replace the phrase with “except” or “besides.” If the sentence still makes sense, use “other than.”

• “Nobody except Mia came.” Works. So: nobody other than Mia came.

The Time Test

Ask yourself if the sentence is about time or order. Can you add “next” or “after that”? If yes, you want “then.” If no, you want “than.”

• “First we ate, then we left.” Time. Use “then.”
• “I like pizza more than pasta.” Comparison. Use “than.”

The Letter Trick

Look at the vowels.

• Th-a-n has an “a,” like comparison.
• Th-e-n has an “e,” like next and event.

It’s a small memory hook, but it works when you’re in a rush.

The Read-Aloud Fix

Say the sentence slowly and stress the word. If you naturally pause as if a new step is starting, it’s “then.” If the word feels like a small hinge inside the sentence, it’s “than.”

Other Than vs Similar Phrases

“Other than” has a few cousins. They’re close, but they don’t always fit the same spot. Here’s how they compare.

Other Than vs Rather Than

This one trips people up. “Rather than” means “instead of.” It shows a choice between two things.

“Other than” means “except.” It shows what’s left out.

• “I chose tea rather than coffee.” (I picked tea instead of coffee.)
• “I drank nothing other than tea.” (Tea was the only thing I drank.)

Similar shape, different job.

Other Than vs Otherwise

“Otherwise” is an adverb. It means “in a different way” or “if not.”

• “Do your homework. Otherwise, you’ll fall behind.”

You can’t replace “other than” with “otherwise” in most sentences, and it works the other way around too.

Other Than vs Any Other Than

You might also see “any other than” or “no other than.” These are older, more formal phrases: “She could be no other than the queen.” It’s fine, but it sounds a little stiff in casual writing.

Is “Other Than” Formal or Casual?

“Other than” works in both formal and casual writing. It’s neutral, which is part of why it’s so handy.

In a text to a friend: “Other than that, I’m good.”

In an email to a boss: “Other than the third slide, the deck is ready.”

In an academic essay: “The study found no factors other than age that affected the results.”

You don’t need to swap it out based on the audience. That’s a nice bonus for a phrase this useful.

If you want something more casual, “apart from” and “besides” feel a bit lighter. If you want something more formal, “with the exception of” does the job, though it’s wordier.

Do You Need a Comma After “Other Than”?

You need a comma when the phrase opens the sentence and there’s a full idea afterward.

• “Other than the rain, the day was perfect.”

You usually don’t need a comma when the phrase sits in the middle.

• “The day was perfect other than the rain.”

Both are fine. The comma just gives the reader a small pause.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the slips that show up most often, in emails, essays, and comment sections.

1. Writing “other then” in place of “other than.” This is the big one. Check every “then” that follows the word “other.”
2. Using “other than” for “rather than.” “I’d choose the blue one other than the red” is wrong. It should be “rather than.”
3. Adding extra words. “Other than except for” doubles up the meaning. Pick one.
4. Forgetting the comma at the start of a sentence. It’s not a major error, but it helps readability.
5. Trusting spellcheck. Both words are real, so your editor won’t warn you. A quick proofread does.

A helpful habit: after you write a draft, search for the word “then” and read each sentence with it. Ask, “Is this about time?” If not, change it to “than.”

You can use the same trick for other look-alike pairs. If you enjoyed this one, take a look at our guide on afterward vs afterwards, where another tiny spelling change causes a lot of confusion.

Quick Practice Test

Try these on your own before you look at the answers.

1. “I have nothing to say ___ thanks.” (than / then)
2. “Finish your meal, ___ we can go.” (than / then)
3. “No one ___ Priya knew the answer.” (than / then)
4. “She’s taller ___ her brother.” (than / then)
5. “Other ___ that, it was fine.” (than / then)

Answers:

1. than. “Other than thanks” means “except thanks.”
2. then. It shows the next step in time.
3. than. “Other than Priya” means “except Priya.”
4. than. It’s a comparison.
5. than. “Other than that” is the standard phrase.

If you got all five, you’re set. If you missed one, go back to the swap test and try it again.

If you like grammar puzzles like this, you may also enjoy our breakdown of privilege vs priviledge, which covers another spelling trap people fall into all the time.

Where You’ll See “Other Than” in Real Life

This phrase is everywhere once you start noticing it.

• Text messages: “Other than being tired, I’m good.”
• Work emails: “No changes other than the date.”
• News headlines and articles: “Officials gave no details other than a short statement.”
• Reviews: “Other than the price, I’d buy it again.”
• Instructions: “Do not use any cleaner other than the one provided.”

Once you see it, you’ll probably notice how often people write “other then” by accident. It’s a typo that shows up in comment sections, forum posts, and even a few published articles.

Quick Tips to Get It Right Every Time

Here’s a short cheat sheet you can save.

• If you mean except, write than.
• If you mean next in time, write then.
• If both words are separate parts of the sentence, keep them separate and read carefully.
• When in doubt, reword the sentence with “except” or “besides.”
• Reread your writing once. Most of these errors are caught on the second read.

Writers who deal with these small mix-ups every day, like editors and teachers, use the same checklist. It’s not fancy, but it works. For another pair that trips up writers in the same way, try our post on tying or tieing.

Other Than or Other Then: Which One Is Correct?

Other than is the correct phrase when you want to mean “apart from,” “besides,” “except,” or “in addition to.” Other then is generally incorrect when used with this meaning. The confusion happens because than and then sound similar in some accents, but they have different grammatical functions.

• Other than = apart from, besides, except
• Other then = not normally correct for this expression
• Than is commonly used for comparison or in established expressions such as other than.
• Then usually relates to time, sequence, or consequence.

Example:

• Other than English, she speaks Urdu and Punjabi.
• Other than Monday, I am available every day.
• Everyone other than Ali attended the meeting.

The key point is simple: when you mean “apart from” or “except,” use “other than,” not “other then.”

Other Than or Other Then: Which One Is Correct Synonym?

If you are looking for a synonym of other than, the correct phrase is other than. It can often be replaced by words or phrases such as apart from, besides, except, excluding, or in addition to, depending on the sentence.

• Other than = apart from
• Other than = besides
• Other than = except
• Other than = excluding
• Other than = in addition to

Examples:

• Other than John, everyone agreed.
• Apart from John, everyone agreed.
• Do you speak any language other than English?
• Do you speak any language besides English?

Although these expressions can have similar meanings, they are not always interchangeable in every sentence. The best synonym depends on whether other than expresses an exception, exclusion, or an additional alternative.

Other Than or Other Then: Which One Is Correct Meaning?

Other than means apart from, besides, except for, or something different from, depending on the context. It is a common English phrase used to show an exception, exclusion, difference, or additional possibility.

Common meanings of “other than”:

• Apart from: something is excluded or considered separately.
• Besides: something additional is mentioned.
• Except for: someone or something is excluded from a group.
• Different from: something is not the same as another thing.
• In addition to: another person or thing is included.

Examples:

• I have no hobbies other than reading.
  • Meaning: Reading is the only hobby I have.
• Is there anyone other than Sarah who can help?
  • Meaning: Is there someone besides Sarah who can help?
• The room was empty other than a small table.
  • Meaning: The small table was the only thing besides the otherwise empty room.

Other then does not normally have this meaning. If you are trying to say “apart from” or “besides,” the correct spelling is other than.

Other Than or Other Then: Which One Is Correct Examples?

The following examples show how other than is correctly used in everyday, academic, and professional English:

• I do not eat anything other than vegetables.
• Do you have any plans other than studying?
• She speaks languages other than English.
• No one other than the manager can approve this request.
• I have never visited any country other than Pakistan.
• Is there another option other than this one?
• He has no interests other than football.
• Everyone other than Emma completed the assignment.
• We need information other than what is already available.
• The company offers services other than consulting.

A useful way to remember the spelling is to replace other than with apart from. If apart from makes sense in the sentence, other than is usually the appropriate phrase.

Other Then Meaning

Other then is generally not the correct spelling when you mean “apart from,” “besides,” or “except.” In standard English, this meaning is expressed with other than.

The word then has a different meaning. It commonly refers to:

• A time: “I lived there then.”
• A sequence: “First finish your work, then take a break.”
• A consequence: “If you agree, then we can begin.”
• A previous time: “Back then, things were different.”

Because than and then are easily confused, other then is a common spelling mistake. When the intended meaning is “apart from” or “except,” always use “other than.”

Incorrect: I have no hobbies other then reading.
Correct: I have no hobbies other than reading.

Other Than That or Other Then That

The correct expression is other than that, not other then that, when you mean “apart from that,” “besides that,” or “except for that.”

Other than that is widely used in conversational, professional, and written English.

Examples:

• Other than that, everything went well.
• I have no complaints other than that small issue.
• Other than that, the project is ready.
• The hotel was excellent other than that the room was a little small.

Here, other than that introduces an exception or qualification.

Other then that is incorrect when it is intended to express this meaning.

However, then can appear naturally in other sentences:

• Finish the report, then send it to me.
• If that happens, then we will discuss it.

The distinction is therefore based on meaning: than belongs in other than, while then is generally associated with time, sequence, or consequence.

Synonyms of Other Than

Depending on the context, several words and phrases can be used as synonyms for other than. The most suitable choice depends on the exact meaning of the sentence.

• Apart from — used to exclude or separately mention something.
• Besides — used to introduce something additional.
• Except for — used to identify an exception.
• Except — directly excludes someone or something.
• Excluding — commonly used when something is deliberately left out.
• In addition to — emphasizes something additional rather than an exception.
• Aside from — similar to “apart from,” especially in conversational English.
• Different from — appropriate when discussing something that is not the same.
• Instead of — can work in some contexts where an alternative is being discussed, but it is not a direct synonym in every sentence.

Examples:

• Other than John, everyone came.
• Apart from John, everyone came.
• Except for John, everyone came.
• Besides John, everyone came.

These sentences can be similar in meaning, but subtle differences in emphasis may make one expression more natural than another.

Other Than or Rather Than

Other than and rather than are different expressions and should not be treated as direct synonyms.

Other than generally means apart from, besides, or except for.

Rather than generally means instead of or in preference to.

Compare the two:

• I have no choice other than to wait.
  • Meaning: Waiting is the only remaining option.
• I decided to wait rather than leave.
  • Meaning: I chose waiting instead of leaving.

More examples:

• Do you have any hobbies other than reading?
• She chose tea rather than coffee.
• No one other than the manager can approve it.
• He stayed home rather than going out.

A simple distinction is:

• Other than = apart from / except
• Rather than = instead of / in preference to

Although both phrases can appear when discussing alternatives, their grammatical roles and meanings are different.

Other Than Meaning and Examples

Other than is a versatile English phrase meaning apart from, besides, except for, or different from, depending on how it is used. It can function naturally in casual conversation, professional communication, academic writing, and everyday speech.

Other Than Meaning “Apart From”

When other than means apart from, it identifies something outside the main subject.

• Other than English, she studies French.
• Other than weekends, I am usually busy.
• Other than this problem, the system works well.

Other Than Meaning “Except”

It can also introduce an exception.

• Everyone other than Tom was invited.
• No one other than the director knew about the decision.
• I eat almost everything other than seafood.

Other Than Meaning “Besides”

In some contexts, other than introduces an additional person, thing, or possibility.

• What other than money do you need?
• Is there anything other than coffee available?
• What can we do other than wait?

Other Than in Professional English

The phrase is also useful in formal and workplace communication because it is clear and neutral.

• Please let me know if you need anything other than the documents provided.
• We do not require any information other than what is listed on the form.
• No changes are needed other than the final formatting adjustment.

Quick Rule to Remember

If you mean “apart from,” “besides,” or “except,” use “other than.” If you mean “at that time,” “after that,” or “next,” use “then.”

Correct: Other than
Incorrect for this meaning: Other then

The easiest memory trick is: “Other than” = apart from. “Then” = time or sequence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I say “other then” or “other than”?

Other than is correct when you mean “apart from,” “besides,” or “except.” Other then is usually incorrect because then refers to time or sequence, not comparison or exception.

Is it thier or thier?

Neither spelling is correct. The correct spelling is their, which shows possession, as in “their house” or “their opinion.” There and they’re have different meanings.

Is it correct to say “rather than”?

Yes, rather than is completely correct and commonly used in English. It means “instead of” and is used when choosing or preferring one thing over another, such as “I would walk rather than wait.”

Do I say than or then?

Use than when making a comparison, such as “She is taller than me.” Use then when talking about time, sequence, or what happens next, such as “Finish your work, then go home.”

What does “other than” mean?

Other than generally means “apart from,” “besides,” or “except for.” For example, “I have no plans other than studying” means studying is the only plan being considered.

Final Thoughts

“Other than” is the phrase you want. It means “except” or “besides,” and it fits nearly every situation where people wrongly type “other then.” The only time “then” sits next to “other” is when the two words serve different jobs, and that’s rare.

Try the swap test whenever you’re stuck. If “except” fits, write “than.” If the sentence is about time, write “then.” That’s the whole difference.

Next time you see “other then” in a comment or an email, you’ll know exactly what happened. And if you want to keep sharpening your grammar, check out the related guides above. Small fixes like this one make your writing look sharper.

Riaz Ahmad

Riaz Ahmad is the founder and writer at DefineGrammar.com, dedicated to simplifying English grammar for students and writers worldwide. With a passion for language, he breaks down complex grammar rules into clear, practical lessons, helping readers write with confidence and clarity every day.