Thru vs. Through: The Correct Spellings

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.

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."

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.

Incorrect: He read thru the document quickly.

Correct: He read through the document quickly.

Incorrect: The project is halfway thru.

Correct: The project is halfway through.

Incorrect: I'll meet you at the drive-thru window.

Correct: I'll meet you at the drive-through window.

Incorrect: We walked thru the park yesterday.

Correct: We walked through the park yesterday.

Incorrect: We drove thru the tunnel in silence.

Correct: We drove through the tunnel in silence.

At the end of a process or period of time.

In one side and out the opposite or another side of

Among or between; in the midst of

By way of

By the means or agency of

Into and out of the handling, care, processing, modification, or consideration of

Here and there in; around

From the beginning to the end of

At or to the end of; done or finished with, especially successfully

Up to and including

Past and without stopping for

Because of; on account of

From one end or side to another or an opposite end or side

From beginning to end; completely

Throughout the whole extent or thickness; thoroughly

Over the total distance; all the way

To a conclusion or an accomplishment

Allowing continuous passage; unobstructed

Affording transportation to a destination with few or no stops and no transfers

Continuing on a highway without exiting

Passing or extending from one end, side, or surface to another

Having finished; at completion

Having no further concern, dealings, or connection

Having no more use, value, or potential; washed-up

Doomed to death or destruction.

From one side of an opening to the other.

Entering, then later leaving.

Surrounded by (while moving).

By means of.

In consequence of; as a result of.

(North America) To (or up to) and including, with all intermediate values.

Passing from one side of something to the other.

Finished; complete.

Without a future; done for.

No longer interested; wearied or turned off by experience.

Proceeding from origin to destination without delay due to change of equipment.

(association football) In possession of the ball beyond the last line of defence but not necessarily the goalkeeper; through on goal.

From one side to the other by way of the interior.

From one end to the other.

During a period of time; throughout

To the end.

Completely.

Out into the open.

A large slab of stone laid in a dry-stone wall from one side to the other; a perpend.

(obsolete) A coffin, sarcophagus or tomb of stone; a large slab of stone laid on a tomb.

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.

Between the sides or walls of; within; as, to pass through a door; to go through an avenue.

By means of; by the agency of.

Over the whole surface or extent of; as, to ride through the country; to look through an account.

Among or in the midst of; - used to denote passage; as, a fish swims through the water; the light glimmers through a thicket.

From the beginning to the end of; to the end or conclusion of; as, through life; through the year.

From one end or side to the other; as, to pierce a thing through.

From beginning to end; as, to read a letter through.

To the end; to a conclusion; to the ultimate purpose; as, to carry a project through.

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.

having finished or arrived at completion;

of a route or journey etc.; continuing without requiring stops or changes;

from one end or side to the other;

from beginning to end;

over the whole distance;

to completion;

in diameter;

throughout the entire extent;

Moving in one side and out of the other side.

As a result or means of something.

Up to and including.

Indicating the amount, extent, or duration of an action.

He flipped through the pages of the book.

We worked through the night to finish the project.

The river flows through the forest.

She looked through the window at the snow.

They walked through the city exploring its sights.

The new policy will go into effect halfway through the year.

The road goes through several small towns.

The train went through a long, dark tunnel.

She made it through the audition successfully.

The path leads through a beautiful garden.

The company has been through a lot of changes recently.

The message came through loud and clear.

The chef tasted the soup through the cooking process to ensure perfection.

The sunlight streamed through the open window.

The rumor spread through the school quickly.

The wind whistled through the trees.

The detective worked through the clues to solve the mystery.

The athlete persevered through the pain to finish the race.

He pushed through the crowd to get to the front.

The needle went through the fabric easily.

They strolled through the market, looking at all the goods.

He sifted through the evidence to find the truth.

She listened to music through her headphones.

She read through the contract carefully before signing.

The tour guide led us through the museum, explaining each exhibit.

To recognize the truth or real intention behind something.

To remain loyal or supportive no matter what difficulties arise.

To be overlooked or neglected.

To successfully communicate or make someone understand.

To overcome an obstacle or barrier.

Completely; in every aspect.

To learn something via gossip or unofficial sources.

To do something without enthusiasm or effort, as a routine.

From the perspective or viewpoint of.

To experience and survive a challenging period or event.

To increase to a very high level.

To rehearse or review.

To emerge, survive, or show up.

To examine or inspect.

To recover from an illness or difficult situation.

To escape detection or attention.

To progress within an organization from lower to higher positions.

To provide clarity in a situation filled with confusion or too much information.

To see or understand from another person's perspective.

To proceed with difficulty, as if moving through something dense or cumbersome.

The word "through" has its roots in Old English as "þurh," maintaining its meaning of moving from one side to another over time.

Yes, many modern dictionaries include "thru" but denote it as an informal or colloquial variant of "through."

"Thru" is an informal abbreviation, especially used in American signage, while "through" is the formal and standard spelling in English.

"Through" can function as a preposition, adjective, or adverb depending on its use in a sentence.

No, "thru" is not typically accepted in formal writing; "through" should be used instead.

"Thru" is shorter and therefore saves space, making it ideal for road signs, especially in America.

Yes, "drive-thru" is commonly used in the U.S. for places where you receive a service without leaving your car.

As an adjective, "through" might describe a means of public transportation that doesn't require changing vehicles, as in a "through train."

Some synonyms include "via," "by," "using," "with the help of," and "by means of."

Yes, "throughout" means in every part of something or during the entire period of time. It can be considered an extended form of "through."