Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate This Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#3985496 - 07/24/14 05:41 PM What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?!  
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,827
Mace71 Offline
Dread pirate Mace
Mace71  Offline
Dread pirate Mace
Veteran

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,827
Darlington, UK.
This annoys me so much and it seems to be an American kid thing as I have not heard or seen it typed by any UK kids.

I do not understand why they would even think it is correct! It's like that other one saying 'I could care less' instead of the correct way of 'I couldn't care less'! What goes on in schools these days?


Antec 902 | Intel i7 920 2.66Ghz OC'd to 3.40GHz | MSI GeForce GTX 660 Black Knight 2048MB GDDR5 | Corsair 6GB DDR3 | Coolermaster V8 CPU Cooler | W7 64

"There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." Aristotle
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#3985499 - 07/24/14 05:44 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,700
Peally Offline
Hotshot
Peally  Offline
Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,700
Wisconsin, USA
I could care less, but than again, I'm totes a cool guy.

*runs off to fedora store to be a douche*

biggrin


Scully: Victim died of multiple stab wounds.
Mulder: *throws her a file* Ever heard of the knife alien?
#3985501 - 07/24/14 05:47 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Online Centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
Eh, I'm fairly certain this isn't just an "American kid thing". Poor grammar seems to be a universal problem in any English-speaking country these days. Other things like confusing "effect" and "affect", confusing "you're" and "your" and confusing "bare" and "bear" happen all the time and are not restricted to one nationality.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3985505 - 07/24/14 05:52 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,827
Mace71 Offline
Dread pirate Mace
Mace71  Offline
Dread pirate Mace
Veteran

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,827
Darlington, UK.
Every time I'm seeing it it's written by a person in the US. I agree about the others you mentioned and have always been around but this is new and I am not sure if it's the new 'kewl' thing to do?


Antec 902 | Intel i7 920 2.66Ghz OC'd to 3.40GHz | MSI GeForce GTX 660 Black Knight 2048MB GDDR5 | Corsair 6GB DDR3 | Coolermaster V8 CPU Cooler | W7 64

"There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." Aristotle
#3985508 - 07/24/14 05:55 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
mugwump Offline
Member
mugwump  Offline
Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
Vancouver, Canuckistan
Idiots who use an apostrophe and the letter "s" when they want to make the plural form of a word should be pilloried.


S = k ln W
#3985515 - 07/24/14 06:01 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,562
Airdrop01 Offline
Chief Pheasant Controller
Airdrop01  Offline
Chief Pheasant Controller
Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,562
Kansas, USA
I once fired an employee because she typed "Never the less" and "hear to for." Not my proudest moment, looking back.


"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matthew 5:11

Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because “the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
#3985520 - 07/24/14 06:08 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,944
Crane Hunter Offline
Veteran
Crane Hunter  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,944
Master Meme-er
Pore grammer FTW.

#3985521 - 07/24/14 06:11 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,794
adlabs6 Offline
Veteran
adlabs6  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,794
Tracy Island
Originally Posted By: MaceUK33
What goes on in schools these days?


I'm not sure it has much to do with schools.


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#3985524 - 07/24/14 06:16 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,870
Wireman Offline
Lurker Extraordinaire
Wireman  Offline
Lurker Extraordinaire
Hotshot

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,870
The First State, USA


#3985534 - 07/24/14 06:28 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: adlabs6]  
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
mugwump Offline
Member
mugwump  Offline
Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
Vancouver, Canuckistan
Originally Posted By: adlabs6
Originally Posted By: MaceUK33
What goes on in schools these days?


I'm not sure it has much to do with schools.


It does. I went back to college about five years ago to earn yet another piece of paper and it was very disheartening to see just how poorly prepared the eighteen-year-old students were in terms of English. math, and chemistry. They'd all taken the high school courses and got high marks, yet hardly any of them could do even basic math and their grammar and spelling skills were very poor. One of the older lecturers would deduct marks for grammar and spelling errors on exams and the wailing that ensued when this was discovered was astounding. They were shocked that such a draconian policy could exist. As one put it, "We have to write our answers by hand! How can you mark spelling wrong when we can't use spell-check?"


S = k ln W
#3985544 - 07/24/14 06:40 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: mugwump]  
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Online Centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted By: mugwump

It does. I went back to college about five years ago to earn yet another piece of paper and it was very disheartening to see just how poorly prepared the eighteen-year-old students were in terms of English. math, and chemistry. They'd all taken the high school courses and got high marks, yet hardly any of them could do even basic math and their grammar and spelling skills were very poor. One of the older lecturers would deduct marks for grammar and spelling errors on exams and the wailing that ensued when this was discovered was astounding. They were shocked that such a draconian policy could exist. As one put it, "We have to write our answers by hand! How can you mark spelling wrong when we can't use spell-check?"


I attribute this to the overall problem of political correctness. It's no longer ok to fail a student because who knows? Maybe that student grew up in a disadvantaged home or maybe they were raised by a single parent or maybe that student will have his/her feelings hurt if they get a bad grade? So instead schools (including colleges) lower the bar to the lowest common denominator and as a consequence things like basic grammar, math skills and basic knowledge of history go away.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3985551 - 07/24/14 06:50 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Wireman]  
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,163
Murphy Offline
Administrator
Murphy  Offline
Administrator
Hotshot

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,163
Northern Michigan, USA
Originally Posted By: Wireman




I love it.

Sorry Mace, I'm sure I am guilty of that myself, often.
My 'spell check' doesn't recognize the error, and I'm not sure when to use 'than', or 'then'.

I think.....than is like 'better than', like different 'things'?
Like my bike is better than yours.

And 'then', is a time thing.
I'll come over then we'll beat the hell out of each other.

But I really have no idea......I'm not sure.

Help us out Mace....you brilliant edumacatium master you..... biggrin
I'm not too old to learn.
Give us the 'for instance' thing on some of the ones that bug you.
Help us out. smile


"Murphy's Law"
#3985553 - 07/24/14 06:52 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,961
arthur666 Offline
Pitbull Tickler
arthur666  Offline
Pitbull Tickler
Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,961
NC, USA
One of the most intelligent people I know cannot spell for isht. Industrial designer/engineer, I swear he has a TI-85 lodged in is brain. Graduated from NC State school of design. Scary good at chess. Super smart. He gives me a recipe for his pizza dough: "2 cups of flower". I had to tell him that "kwik" is not a real word just because the Kwik-Mart convenience store has it on their sign. Says remembering how to spell "quick" correctly was never worth his time. I'm sure his math/language SAT score was very lopsided.

I used to make fun of him all the time. Though, over the years, he's gotten much better at spelling.


System Vitals: Intel i5 9600, RTX2060, 16GB DDR3000(OC), Win10 Home 64bit, Saitek X-52, Logitech G27
Current Sims: MSFS2020, Assetto Corsa, StrikeFighters2, IL2:BoS etc, Arma3, American Truck Simulator, SnowRunner
#3985556 - 07/24/14 06:55 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: arthur666]  
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Online Centaurian
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted By: arthur666
One of the most intelligent people I know cannot spell for isht. Industrial designer/engineer, I swear he has a TI-85 lodged in is brain. Graduated from NC State school of design. Scary good at chess. Super smart. He gives me a recipe for his pizza dough: "2 cups of flower". I had to tell him that "kwik" is not a real word just because the Kwik-Mart convenience store has it on their sign. Says remembering how to spell "quick" correctly was never worth his time. I'm sure his math/language SAT score was very lopsided.

I used to make fun of him all the time. Though, over the years, he's gotten much better at spelling.
Out of curiosity, how old is he?

Admittedly, I think I'm the complete opposite of your friend. I always excelled at grammar, literature and the humanities in general and I've always struggled with mathematics. Getting through trigonometry was hell for me.

Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 07/24/14 06:56 PM.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3985559 - 07/24/14 07:04 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: mugwump]  
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,794
adlabs6 Offline
Veteran
adlabs6  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,794
Tracy Island
Originally Posted By: mugwump
Originally Posted By: adlabs6
Originally Posted By: MaceUK33
What goes on in schools these days?


I'm not sure it has much to do with schools.


It does. I went back to college about five years ago to earn yet another piece of paper and it was very disheartening to see just how poorly prepared the eighteen-year-old students were in terms of English. math, and chemistry. They'd all taken the high school courses and got high marks, yet hardly any of them could do even basic math and their grammar and spelling skills were very poor. One of the older lecturers would deduct marks for grammar and spelling errors on exams and the wailing that ensued when this was discovered was astounding. They were shocked that such a draconian policy could exist. As one put it, "We have to write our answers by hand! How can you mark spelling wrong when we can't use spell-check?"


I suppose my point of reference is a bit old. I saw similar situations in the late 1990s, where kids would not only misspell but actually mispronounce words. They went to the same classes as the kids who didn't do this, watched the same national TV shows as everybody else. They knew.

For most I knew, it seemed as though this was some form of cultural identification or representing. I don't know. But I did know that most all those kids had those basics down.

And that was pre-internet days. Today with social influences and pressures being much broader in source and reach, I honestly have no idea. Just last week I was discussing some modern day pop-art (which was apparently selling pretty well) with someone, and we were at a loss as to what any of the subject matter or symbolism may have meant, or whether it had any relevance at all. Best guess I could make was there may have been some sort of media relevance which was lost on us. Some movie, song, or game with which we were unfamiliar. But a good number of buyers apparently were identifying with it.


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#3985565 - 07/24/14 07:17 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,961
arthur666 Offline
Pitbull Tickler
arthur666  Offline
Pitbull Tickler
Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,961
NC, USA
Originally Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Out of curiosity, how old is he?

Admittedly, I think I'm the complete opposite of your friend. I always excelled at grammar, literature and the humanities in general and I've always struggled with mathematics. Getting through trigonometry was hell for me.


I forgot to mention. He's about 40. Not of the Generation Text.

I'm in the same boat as you, PM.

#3985566 - 07/24/14 07:17 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: arthur666]  
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,700
Peally Offline
Hotshot
Peally  Offline
Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,700
Wisconsin, USA
Originally Posted By: arthur666
One of the most intelligent people I know cannot spell for isht. Industrial designer/engineer, I swear he has a TI-85 lodged in is brain. Graduated from NC State school of design. Scary good at chess. Super smart. He gives me a recipe for his pizza dough: "2 cups of flower". I had to tell him that "kwik" is not a real word just because the Kwik-Mart convenience store has it on their sign. Says remembering how to spell "quick" correctly was never worth his time. I'm sure his math/language SAT score was very lopsided.

I used to make fun of him all the time. Though, over the years, he's gotten much better at spelling.


It's worth the 2 seconds to learn the proper spelling just to not type like a toddler.


Scully: Victim died of multiple stab wounds.
Mulder: *throws her a file* Ever heard of the knife alien?
#3985568 - 07/24/14 07:30 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,340
Lieste Offline
Senior Member
Lieste  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,340
Originally Posted By: PanzerMeyer
Eh, I'm fairly certain this isn't just an "American kid thing". Poor grammar seems to be a universal problem in any English-speaking country these days. Other things like confusing "effect" and "affect", confusing "you're" and "your" and confusing "bare" and "bear" happen all the time and are not restricted to one nationality.


Worryingly I had an English Teacher abuse your/you're for the abbreviated form recently. <Depressing>"I like what your saying there". </depressing>

#3985583 - 07/24/14 08:06 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: mugwump]  
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19,581
Raw Kryptonite Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
Raw Kryptonite  Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
Veteran

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19,581
MS
Originally Posted By: mugwump
Idiots who use an apostrophe and the letter "s" when they want to make the plural form of a word should be pilloried.


Just so you know, there are instances where you do use 's to form the plural form of a word.

I have no idea how the "then" and "than" thing came around. I don't think it's an American thing, I think it's an idiot thing.
I couldn't care less how it got started, I just wish it would end.


·Steam: Raw Kryptonite ·MWO & Elite Dangerous: Defcon Won ·Meager youtube channel
·Intel i5-9600K ·EVGA GTX1070 FTW 8GB ·EVGA CLC 120 Cooler
·16 GB Patriot Memory VIPER 4 3000MHz ·GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi Mobo
· CORSAIR CARBIDE AIR 540 case ·BenQ BL3200PT monitor
#3985596 - 07/24/14 08:31 PM Re: What is it with putting 'then' instead of 'than'?! [Re: Mace71]  
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Jedi Master Offline
Entil'zha
Jedi Master  Offline
Entil'zha
Sierra Hotel

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Space Coast, USA
And another thread dedicated to Word Crimes. smile

Don't forget all those retail stores with their "x items or less" signs!






The Jedi Master


The anteater is wearing the bagel because he's a reindeer princess. -- my 4 yr old daughter
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  RacerGT 

Quick Search
Recent Articles
Support SimHQ

If you shop on Amazon use this Amazon link to support SimHQ
.
Social


Recent Topics
Carnival Cruise Ship Fire....... Again
by F4UDash4. 03/26/24 05:58 PM
Baltimore Bridge Collapse
by F4UDash4. 03/26/24 05:51 PM
The Oldest WWII Veterans
by F4UDash4. 03/24/24 09:21 PM
They got fired after this.
by Wigean. 03/20/24 08:19 PM
Grown ups joke time
by NoFlyBoy. 03/18/24 10:34 PM
Anyone Heard from Nimits?
by F4UDash4. 03/18/24 10:01 PM
RIP Gemini/Apollo astronaut Tom Stafford
by semmern. 03/18/24 02:14 PM
10 years after 3/8/2014
by NoFlyBoy. 03/17/24 10:25 AM
Copyright 1997-2016, SimHQ Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.0