# 'Then' and 'Than'. Two different words.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [June 8, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331 "2004-06-08T20:52:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/61 "2004-06-12T05:38:54Z")

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Has anyone else noticed the recent usage of “weary” in place of wary? As in, “My next-door neighbor has been acting strange lately. I’m weary of him now, because he’s scary.”  
I’ve heard this more than once, one time I think maybe even on these very boards.

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**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/62 "2004-06-12T07:58:55Z")

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Lately I’ve noticed “career” in place of “careen”, as in, “The car careered across the road and fell off the embankment.” Sorry, but those words are only synonyms if you change jobs a lot.

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**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/63 "2004-06-12T08:21:53Z")

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> [@sturmhauke](#):
>
> Lately I’ve noticed “career” in place of “careen”, as in, “The car careered across the road and fell off the embankment.” Sorry, but those words are only synonyms if you change jobs a lot.

**Career** can also mean speed, at full speed, move rapidly, rush.

From [Oxford](http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed_old/career?view=uk)

> [@](#):
>
> • verb move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.  
> — ORIGIN originally denoting a road or racecourse: from French carrière, from Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle’.

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**Author:** ![graceland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ec9cab/32.png) [@graceland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/graceland)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/64 "2004-06-12T10:19:09Z")

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It’s precedent, not presidents.  
(Sorry, I’ve been overtaken by the inescapable this past week.)

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**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/65 "2004-06-12T11:12:51Z")

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> [@jastu](#):
>
> **Career** can also mean speed, at full speed, move rapidly, rush.
> 
> From [Oxford](http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed_old/career?view=uk)

Bah, what do they know? Oxford indeed, hmph. Buncha morons, I tell you.

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**Author:** ![quilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/839c29/32.png) [@quilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quilter)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/then-and-than-two-different-words/249331/66 "2004-06-12T12:39:04Z")

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should of

Makes me cringe, every time.

(And BOY! “should” looks misspelled when you’re trying not to invoke Gaudere!)

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