well than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well than" is not correct in written English; it should be "well then." You can use "well then" to transition to a new topic or to indicate a conclusion or decision after a discussion.
Example: "Well then, if everyone agrees, let's move forward with the plan."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

well, than alegria.

The New York Times

The film did less well than anticipated.

The Guardian - Film

Nan weathered less well than I did.

The Guardian - Books

Well than this is that kind of book.

The Guardian

They are doing considerably less well than under Hague".

The Guardian

Do they perform less well than British-trained doctors?

The Guardian

Do consumers assume they perform less well than others?

The Guardian

The camera sees things less well than my eyes.

The Guardian

(Mr. Tudor's party did less well than he did personally).

The New York Times

Then, too, some scenes work less well than others.

The New York Times - Arts

They fared less well than on their previous tour.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check your spelling and grammar to ensure you're using "then" (indicating time or sequence) and "than" (used for comparisons) correctly. Using "well then" is the standard and grammatically sound way to transition in a sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "well than" in your writing. The correct phrase is "well then". "Than" is used for comparisons, while "then" indicates a sequence or consequence. Using "than" in place of "then" is a common grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well than" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct form is "well then". The intended function is typically to serve as a transitional phrase or to indicate a conclusion, similar to phrases like "so then" or "in that case."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "well than" is generally considered grammatically incorrect; the correct phrase is "well then". The intended use is as a transitional phrase or to indicate a conclusion. According to Ludwig, the phrase "well then" is a better choice. While there are some examples of "well than" in news and media sources, these are likely errors. Therefore, it's best to use "well then" or alternatives like "in that case" or "so then" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well then

Corrects the grammatical error by using "then" instead of "than", indicating a conclusion or transition.

in that case

Offers a similar meaning, implying a consequence or decision based on previous information.

so then

Indicates a logical continuation or next step in a discussion or action.

therefore

Provides a formal way to express a conclusion based on preceding statements.

accordingly

Suggests that an action or decision follows logically from what has been said.

thus

Formally introduces a result or consequence.

in consequence

Highlights the result or effect of a previous action or statement.

that being the case

Acknowledges a situation and introduces a related action or decision.

under the circumstances

Suggests a decision or action is appropriate given the current conditions.

consequently

Formally indicates that something is a result of a previous action or situation.

FAQs

How to properly use "well then" in a sentence?

Use "well then" to indicate a transition, conclusion, or next step in a conversation or thought process. For example, "Well then, if everyone agrees, we can proceed with the plan."

What is the difference between "well than" and "well then"?

"Well than" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "well then", which is used to signify a conclusion or transition to the next point.

What can I say instead of "well then"?

You can use alternatives like "in that case", "so then", or "therefore" depending on the context.

Is "well than" ever correct in English?

No, "well than" is not considered correct in standard English. The correct phrase to use is "well then".