{"id":11416,"date":"2021-03-13T12:19:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T12:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=11416"},"modified":"2023-04-10T13:19:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T13:19:58","slug":"comma-before-than","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-than\/","title":{"rendered":"Comma before &#8220;than&#8221; \u2014 All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:150%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}<\/style><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do you think is the second most appalling question a writer ever gets apart from &ldquo;Any plans on having a real job?&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Actually, it is &ldquo;Can you briefly tell me how the punctuation system works?&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The punctuation system per se is far too complex to be explained in one sitting, let alone &ldquo;briefly.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, to shed light on this issue, we have tried to cover such punctuation subtleties in a digestible manner as in this post.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please read on to understand more about when a comma is necessary before &ldquo;than&rdquo; when constructing sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>When do we need a comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo;?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>A comma should not be placed before &ldquo;than&rdquo; unless it appears in series. And, a comma may conveniently precede &ldquo;than&rdquo; when it introduces parenthetical information at the end of a sentence, which may only happen when facilitating readability or trying to achieve an emphatic effect. However, a comma must not be used before &ldquo;than&rdquo; when it ordinarily and non-parenthetically functions as a preposition or a conjunction in a sentence.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Understanding the necessity of a comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word &ldquo;than&rdquo; can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-either\/\"><b>either<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be used as a conjunction or a preposition that denotes comparison and contrast of items or ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It functions as a conjunction when it precedes a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-subordinate-clauses\/\"><b>subordinate clause<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while it functions as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owl.purdue.edu\/owl\/general_writing\/grammar\/prepositions\/prepositions_of_location_at_in_on.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>preposition<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when a noun or noun phrase follows afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In particular, &ldquo;than&rdquo; is a word classified under <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/subordinating-conjunctions\/\" title=\"subordinating conjunctions\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">subordinating conjunctions<\/a>, which is used to link a subordinate clause to the main clause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good writers, English teachers, and straight-A students most likely know that a comma should <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-not\/\"><b>not<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be used before subordinating conjunctions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is because the comma defeats the purpose of the connective device <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-per-se\/\"><b>per se<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as the necessity of the information contained in the subordinate clause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a preposition, &ldquo;than&rdquo; is also used to introduce the other entity being compared to in a statement, which needs to be a noun or a noun phrase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;Than&rdquo; is a crucial element in understanding our lessons on comparative adjectives and adverbs, as well as in constructing grammatically-correct sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Putting a comma before prepositions <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-also-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>also<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> makes sentences grammatically unsound, unless, of course, when and if there is a necessity to do so.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The easy way to imagine this is to try to think of putting a comma before the preposition &ldquo;at&rdquo; in the sentence below, which is textually awkward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am at home.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, as we <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-often-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>often<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hear from English teachers, there are always a couple of exceptions to the &ldquo;rules&rdquo;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But why not? Language is arbitrary and, at the same time, people are whimsical, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-after-so\/\"><b>so<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it is natural to have some outliers from time to time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let&rsquo;s try to understand when a comma before &ldquo;that&rdquo; becomes necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>A comma is only required when &ldquo;than&rdquo; is part of a serial list<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11431\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg\" alt=\"Comma usage: Than as part of a serial list\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11431 eager-load\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201280%20720'%3E%3Crect%20width='1280'%20height='720'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Comma usage: Than as part of a serial list\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-usage_-_Than_-as-part-of-a-list-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I&rsquo;ve been contemplating on the possible sentence structures that should require a comma before &ldquo;than,&rdquo; I have deduced that it is only necessary when it is part of a serial list.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most basic function of commas <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-that\/\"><b>that<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, at least, most people know is to separate a serial list of items in sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is done to make sentences readable, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-thereby\/\"><b>thereby<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, helping a reader comprehend with convenience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In ordinary sentences, &ldquo;than&rdquo; does not usually appear in series unless a writer needs to do so for some special reason.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-e-g\/\"><b>For the sake of example<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> though, here&rsquo;s how it can be serially used.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Some conjunctions can also act as prepositions like before, after, for, than, and until.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-although\/\"><b>Although<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo; is necessary for the sentence above, the one after it, also known as the Oxford Comma, is optional.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-hence\/\"><b>Hence<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it can be removed inasmuch as it doesn&rsquo;t make the sentence ambiguous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>The optional comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though the only structure that strictly requires a comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo; is only true with the previous guideline, a comma could be optionally inserted when we talk about style.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, I&rsquo;d like to stress that the next guideline serves a particular purpose, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/which-vs-what\/\"><b>which<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should not be generalized.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>When &ldquo;than&rdquo; introduces a parenthetical remark at the end of a sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11427\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg\" alt=\"Comma before than example\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11427 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg\" alt=\"Comma before than example\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-before-than-example.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another element that may need a pre-comma insertion to &ldquo;than&rdquo; is what we refer to as parentheses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parenthetical elements are rhetorical remarks that add flavor or richness to the statement that are singled out with commas for emphasis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/also-beginning-sentence\/\"><b>Also<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the commas mark the grammatical independence of these additional and interruptive thoughts from the rest of the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo; is, therefore, necessary when it introduces parenthetical details within a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&rsquo;s an example wherein the comma helps in facilitating readability and emphasis in an exhaustive sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">There is no better way to translate a source language to a target language without winning some and losing some in the process, than to consider the audience and the purpose of the translation.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see, the information introduced by &ldquo;than&rdquo; is only added to achieve a particular effect in the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-meanwhile\/\"><b>Meanwhile<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the main clause is quite long and verbose, which means a reader might find it hard to digest the real message if the comma is omitted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, it would be better to<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">separate the comparative idea <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-with\/\"><b>with<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a pre-comma to achieve an emphatic and less confusing effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To see the difference, let me also make the sentence shorter. Doing so would make the comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo; rather unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">There is no better way to translate a source language to a target language than to consider the audience and the purpose of the translation.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11422\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg\" alt=\"Comma Before Than: The Definitive Guide\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-735x1103.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-223x335.jpg 223w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-231x347.jpg 231w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-347x520.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-427x640.jpg 427w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-512x768.jpg 512w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-640x960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-720x1080.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11422 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg\" alt=\"Comma Before Than: The Definitive Guide\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-735x1103.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-223x335.jpg 223w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-231x347.jpg 231w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-347x520.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-427x640.jpg 427w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-512x768.jpg 512w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-640x960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin-720x1080.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Comma-Before-Than-Pin.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>The incorrect comma before &ldquo;than&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we have covered the nooks and crannies regarding the mandatory and optional comma placements, it is also crucial that we understand when we must not use one before &ldquo;than.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, &ldquo;than&rdquo; is a two-faced princess that may function as a preposition or a conjunction in sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, using &ldquo;than&rdquo; either way should not prompt a pre-comma insertion, unless, again, the goal to achieve an emphatic effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&rsquo;s take a closer look at some examples now.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>When &ldquo;than&rdquo; non-parenthetically functions as a preposition<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11429\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg\" alt=\"Than in a Comparison Comma Usage\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11429 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg\" alt=\"Than in a Comparison Comma Usage\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg 854w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-735x413.jpg 735w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-335x188.jpg 335w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-347x195.jpg 347w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-520x293.jpg 520w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-640x360.jpg 640w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Than-in-a-Comparison-Comma-Usage.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepositions are actually like conjunctions <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-since\/\"><b>since<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> their main responsibility is to connect elements within a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although they have a similar role, their job is much lighter than conjunctions because they are mainly concerned with nouns and pronouns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepositions help in eliciting the relationship of nouns and pronouns to the other sentence elements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&rsquo;s how to use &ldquo;than&rdquo; as a preposition.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Yelena is shorter than her sister.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;Than&rdquo; connects<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the comparative adjective &ldquo;shorter&rdquo; to the prepositional object &ldquo;her sister&rdquo; which is a noun phrase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal of the statement above is to express a comparison between the heights of the two people mentioned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>When &ldquo;than&rdquo; non-parenthetically functions as a conjunction<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secondly, and lastly, &ldquo;than&rdquo; meanwhile has a tougher job when it is used as a subordinating conjunction in a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can be done when the intention is to tether a richer idea in a clausal form, as opposed to nouns and pronouns only.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interestingly, even though most subordinating conjunctions can start a sentence off, &ldquo;than&rdquo; cannot be used this way, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-except-the-definitive-guide\/\"><b>except<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when it is the subject in the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">&ldquo;Than&rdquo; can function either as a preposition or a conjunction.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-apparently\/\"><b>Apparently<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we cannot use &ldquo;than&rdquo; unless we have already introduced an idea that would serve as the basis for comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As this is the case, the basic rule of not placing a comma before <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-subordinate-clauses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subordinating conjunctions<\/a><\/strong> that appear mid-sentence automatically applies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&rsquo;s an example.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">It&rsquo;s interesting that many people these days are less emotionally attached than they used to be.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Frequently Asked Questions on Comma Before &ldquo;than&rdquo;<\/b><\/h2>\n<h2>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<h3><b>How do we use &ldquo;than&rdquo; in a sentence?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;Than&rdquo; can be used as a preposition as in &ldquo;This is worse than that,&rdquo; or as a conjunction as in &ldquo;She has become more sensitive than she used to be.&rdquo; Either way, the point of using &ldquo;than&rdquo; is to show a comparison of items or ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>How do we use &ldquo;other than&rdquo; in a sentence?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other than&rdquo; may also be used as a conjunctive or a prepositional phrase in sentences. For example, &ldquo;other than&rdquo; is a conjunction in &ldquo;Some acts cannot be objectively judged other than by moral standards.&rdquo; And, it functions as a preposition in &ldquo;Other than condescension, there&rsquo;s no other logical reason why he said that.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Should we put a comma before &ldquo;and&rdquo; in a list?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using the serial or Oxford comma before &ldquo;and,&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;or,&rdquo; is a grammatical convention that is more common in American than in British English. Doing so is concerned with readability issues, and hence, always place a comma if the meaning of the items in the list would become ambiguous without one.<\/span><br>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do we use &ldquo;than&rdquo; in a sentence?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"&ldquo;Than&rdquo; can be used as a preposition as in &ldquo;This is worse than that,&rdquo; or as a conjunction as in &ldquo;She has become more sensitive than she used to be.&rdquo; Either way, the point of using &ldquo;than&rdquo; is to show a comparison of items or ideas.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do we use &ldquo;other than&rdquo; in a sentence?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Other than&rdquo; may also be used as a conjunctive or a prepositional phrase in sentences. For example, &ldquo;other than&rdquo; is a conjunction in &ldquo;Some acts cannot be objectively judged other than by moral standards.&rdquo; And, it functions as a preposition in &ldquo;Other than condescension, there&rsquo;s no other logical reason why he said that.&rdquo;\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Should we put a comma before &ldquo;and&rdquo; in a list?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Using the serial or Oxford comma before &ldquo;and,&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;or,&rdquo; is a grammatical convention that is more common in American than in British English. Doing so is concerned with readability issues, and hence, always place a comma if the meaning of the items in the list would become ambiguous without one.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><br>\n<!--FAQPage Code Generated by https:\/\/saijogeorge.com\/json-ld-schema-generator\/faq\/--><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comma-related decisions can seem futile for many <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-or-after-yet\/\"><b>yet<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> facile for some.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the default equation for everyone is to always consider the audience, as well as the readability of the text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-after-all\/\"><b>After all<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the only way that information can survive for generations is through written records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, we must try our best to understand the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-overall\/\"><b>overall<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> writing system, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-including\/\"><b>including<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the most minute details such as the punctuation marks.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do you think is the second most appalling question a writer ever gets apart from &ldquo;Any plans on having a real job?&rdquo; Actually, it is &ldquo;Can you briefly tell me how the punctuation system works?&rdquo; The punctuation system per se is far too complex to be explained in one sitting, let alone &ldquo;briefly.&rdquo; So, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"Article","disable-critical-css":false,"_convertkit_action_broadcast_export":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,1119,1116],"tags":[80,427],"class_list":["post-11416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-comma-rules","category-grammar","tag-comma","tag-comma-before-than"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11416"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24539,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416\/revisions\/24539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}