Am I the only person who is unseemingly irritated beyond belief by the improper use of two words?  Well not actually two words, more correctly, two word groups.

 

Then....(it already happened).

     –adverb

1.at that time: Prices were lower then.
2.immediately or soon afterward: The rain stopped and then started again.
3.next in order of time: We ate, then we started home.
4.at the same time: At first the water seemed blue, then gray.

Than 

     –conjunction

1.(used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison): She's taller than I am.
2.(used after some adverbs and adjectives expressing choice or diversity, such as other, otherwise, else, anywhere, or different, to introduce an alternative or denote a difference in kind, place, style, identity, etc.): I had no choice other than that. You won't find such freedom anywhere else than in this country.
3.(used to introduce the rejected choice in expressions of preference): I'd rather walk than drive there.
4.except; other than: We had no choice than to return home.

I have seen college graduates use this word improperly and it doesn't get caught by the spellcheck because it is, in fact, a word. 

     

The other word group that drives me NUTS is

 

There, Their, They're

 

Why don't people remember the difference between the three?  My mind is mostly gone and I can remember for crappin sake!!

 

One indicates a direction.

 

One indicates plural possession (among other things) 

 

They other is a contraction of the two words, they are.

 

 

GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRR 

 

oooooh. I must have eaten a bowl of bitchy for breakfast LOL.