Thru vs. Through: The Correct Spellings
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on February 28, 2024
"Thru" is informal and typically used in American English, especially in signs. The standard spelling is "through," signifying moving in one side and out the other of an open space.
Which is correct: Thru or Through
How to spell Through?
Incorrect Spelling
Thru
Correct Spelling
Through
Is it Thru or Through
Between "thru" and "through," the word "through" is the standard and formal spelling in English. It can serve a myriad of purposes from being a preposition, adjective, or adverb. "Thru" is an informal abbreviation of "through" predominantly seen in American English, especially in contexts like drive-thru or written signage meant to save space.
Muazma Batool
Jan 16, 2024
Historically, "through" stems from Old English "þurh," which holds its meaning intact over centuries, implying motion from one side to another. Other forms of the word include "throughout" and "throughway."
Muneeza Rehman
Jan 16, 2024
To remember the spelling of "through," one can imagine going "thro" (like throw) but with an added “ugh” (as in enough) at the end to emphasize the journey of moving from one side to the other.
Muazma Batool
Jan 16, 2024
How Do You Spell Through Correctly?
Incorrect: He read thru the document quickly.
Correct: He read through the document quickly.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Incorrect: The project is halfway thru.
Correct: The project is halfway through.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Incorrect: I'll meet you at the drive-thru window.
Correct: I'll meet you at the drive-through window.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Incorrect: We walked thru the park yesterday.
Correct: We walked through the park yesterday.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Incorrect: We drove thru the tunnel in silence.
Correct: We drove through the tunnel in silence.
Henry
Feb 28, 2024
Through Definitions
At the end of a process or period of time.
He stayed through the entire show.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
In one side and out the opposite or another side of
went through the tunnel.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Into and out of the handling, care, processing, modification, or consideration of
Her application went through our office. Run the figures through the computer.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
At or to the end of; done or finished with, especially successfully
We are through the initial testing period.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Up to and including
a play that runs through December.
a volume that covers A through D.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Because of; on account of
She succeeded through hard work. He declined the honor through modesty.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From one end or side to another or an opposite end or side
opened the door and went through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Throughout the whole extent or thickness; thoroughly
warmed the leftovers clear through.
got soaked through in the rain.
a letter that was shot through with the writer's personality.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Over the total distance; all the way
drove through to their final destination.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Affording transportation to a destination with few or no stops and no transfers
a through bus.
a through ticket.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Passing or extending from one end, side, or surface to another
a through beam.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Having no more use, value, or potential; washed-up
That swimmer is through as an athlete.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Doomed to death or destruction.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Entering, then later leaving.
I drove through the town at top speed without looking left or right.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Surrounded by (while moving).
We slogged through the mud for hours before turning back and giving up.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
In consequence of; as a result of.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
(North America) To (or up to) and including, with all intermediate values.
from 1945 through 1991;
the numbers 1 through 9;
your membership is active through March 15, 2013
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Passing from one side of something to the other.
Interstate highways form a nationwide system of through roads.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Without a future; done for.
After being implicated in the scandal, he was through as an executive in financial services.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
No longer interested; wearied or turned off by experience.
She was through with him.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Proceeding from origin to destination without delay due to change of equipment.
The through flight through Memphis was the fastest.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
(association football) In possession of the ball beyond the last line of defence but not necessarily the goalkeeper; through on goal.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From one side to the other by way of the interior.
The arrow went straight through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From one end to the other.
Others slept; he worked straight through.
She read the letter through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Completely.
Leave the yarn in the dye overnight so the color soaks through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
A large slab of stone laid in a dry-stone wall from one side to the other; a perpend.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
(obsolete) A coffin, sarcophagus or tomb of stone; a large slab of stone laid on a tomb.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From end to end of, or from side to side of; from one surface or limit of, to the opposite; into and out of at the opposite, or at another, point; as, to bore through a piece of timber, or through a board; a ball passes through the side of a ship.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Between the sides or walls of; within; as, to pass through a door; to go through an avenue.
Through the gate of ivory he dismissedHis valiant offspring.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
By means of; by the agency of.
Through these hands this science has passed with great applause.
Material things are presented only through their senses.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Over the whole surface or extent of; as, to ride through the country; to look through an account.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Among or in the midst of; - used to denote passage; as, a fish swims through the water; the light glimmers through a thicket.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From the beginning to the end of; to the end or conclusion of; as, through life; through the year.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From one end or side to the other; as, to pierce a thing through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
From beginning to end; as, to read a letter through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
To the end; to a conclusion; to the ultimate purpose; as, to carry a project through.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Going or extending through; going, extending, or serving from the beginning to the end; thorough; complete; as, a through line; a through ticket; a through train. Also, admitting of passage through; as, a through bridge.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
having finished or arrived at completion;
certain to make history before he's done
it's a done deed
after the treatment, the patient is through except for follow-up
almost through with his studies
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
of a route or journey etc.; continuing without requiring stops or changes;
a through street
a through bus
through traffic
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
throughout the entire extent;
got soaked through in the rain
I'm frozen through
a letter shot through with the writer's personality
knew him through and through
boards rotten through and through
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Indicating the amount, extent, or duration of an action.
She rummaged through her bag looking for her keys.
Nolan
Sep 17, 2023
Through Meaning in a Sentence
He flipped through the pages of the book.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
We worked through the night to finish the project.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
The river flows through the forest.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
She looked through the window at the snow.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
They walked through the city exploring its sights.
Jonathan
Feb 28, 2024
The new policy will go into effect halfway through the year.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
The road goes through several small towns.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
The train went through a long, dark tunnel.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
She made it through the audition successfully.
Jonathan
Feb 28, 2024
The path leads through a beautiful garden.
Lucas
Feb 28, 2024
The company has been through a lot of changes recently.
Henry
Feb 28, 2024
The message came through loud and clear.
William
Feb 28, 2024
The chef tasted the soup through the cooking process to ensure perfection.
Leo
Feb 28, 2024
The sunlight streamed through the open window.
William
Feb 28, 2024
The rumor spread through the school quickly.
Lucas
Feb 28, 2024
The wind whistled through the trees.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
The detective worked through the clues to solve the mystery.
Levi
Feb 28, 2024
The athlete persevered through the pain to finish the race.
Nolan
Feb 28, 2024
He pushed through the crowd to get to the front.
Olivia
Feb 28, 2024
The needle went through the fabric easily.
Nolan
Feb 28, 2024
They strolled through the market, looking at all the goods.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
He sifted through the evidence to find the truth.
Lucas
Feb 28, 2024
She listened to music through her headphones.
Lucas
Feb 28, 2024
She read through the contract carefully before signing.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
The tour guide led us through the museum, explaining each exhibit.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
Through Idioms
See through
To recognize the truth or real intention behind something.
She could see through his excuses and knew he was lying.
Kaitlyn
Feb 28, 2024
Through thick and thin
To remain loyal or supportive no matter what difficulties arise.
They stuck together through thick and thin, showing true friendship.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Fall through the cracks
To be overlooked or neglected.
Important details often fall through the cracks when we rush.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Get through to
To successfully communicate or make someone understand.
It's hard to get through to him when he's so focused on his video games.
Nolan
Feb 28, 2024
Break through
To overcome an obstacle or barrier.
The scientist made a breakthrough in her research.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Through and through
Completely; in every aspect.
He's a New Yorker through and through, loving the city's energy.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Through the grapevine
To learn something via gossip or unofficial sources.
I heard through the grapevine that they're getting married.
Nolan
Feb 28, 2024
Go through the motions
To do something without enthusiasm or effort, as a routine.
Even though he was tired, he went through the motions of cleaning the kitchen.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Through the lens of
From the perspective or viewpoint of.
Viewing the issue through the lens of social justice reveals different insights.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Live through
To experience and survive a challenging period or event.
He lived through two world wars and had many stories to tell.
Olivia
Feb 28, 2024
Through the roof
To increase to a very high level.
After the news broke, the company's stock prices went through the roof.
Levi
Feb 28, 2024
Come through
To emerge, survive, or show up.
She came through the surgery with flying colors.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Look through
To examine or inspect.
He looked through the files to find the document.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Pull through
To recover from an illness or difficult situation.
The doctors are confident he'll pull through.
Nolan
Feb 28, 2024
Slip through the net
To escape detection or attention.
Despite the strict security, some errors slipped through the net.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Through the ranks
To progress within an organization from lower to higher positions.
She rose through the ranks to become CEO of the company.
Levi
Feb 28, 2024
Cut through the noise
To provide clarity in a situation filled with confusion or too much information.
The expert's analysis helped to cut through the noise surrounding the debate.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Through the eyes of
To see or understand from another person's perspective.
Through the eyes of a child, the world is full of wonder.
Muneeza Rehman
Feb 28, 2024
Wade through
To proceed with difficulty, as if moving through something dense or cumbersome.
She had to wade through pages of legal jargon to understand the contract.
William
Feb 28, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the word "through" originate from?
The word "through" has its roots in Old English as "þurh," maintaining its meaning of moving from one side to another over time.
Muneeza Rehman
Jan 16, 2024
Can "thru" be found in the dictionary?
Yes, many modern dictionaries include "thru" but denote it as an informal or colloquial variant of "through."
Muazma Batool
Jan 16, 2024
What is the difference between "thru" and "through"?
"Thru" is an informal abbreviation, especially used in American signage, while "through" is the formal and standard spelling in English.
Muazma Batool
Jan 16, 2024
What part of speech is "through"?
"Through" can function as a preposition, adjective, or adverb depending on its use in a sentence.
Jonathan
Jan 16, 2024
Is "thru" acceptable in formal writing?
No, "thru" is not typically accepted in formal writing; "through" should be used instead.
Muneeza Rehman
Jan 16, 2024
Why do we see "thru" on road signs?
"Thru" is shorter and therefore saves space, making it ideal for road signs, especially in America.
Muazma Batool
Jan 16, 2024
Is "drive-thru" the correct spelling for fast-food lanes?
Yes, "drive-thru" is commonly used in the U.S. for places where you receive a service without leaving your car.
Olivia
Jan 16, 2024
How is "through" used as an adjective?
As an adjective, "through" might describe a means of public transportation that doesn't require changing vehicles, as in a "through train."
Kaitlyn
Jan 16, 2024
What are some synonyms for "through"?
Some synonyms include "via," "by," "using," "with the help of," and "by means of."
Muneeza Rehman
Jan 16, 2024
Is "throughout" related to "through"?
Yes, "throughout" means in every part of something or during the entire period of time. It can be considered an extended form of "through."
Olivia
Jan 16, 2024
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.