Through vs. Thru — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Through" is the correct spelling, meaning moving in one side and out of the other side, while "thru" is an informal and incorrect spelling variant. Consistent and proper use assures clear communication.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Through or Thru
How to spell Through?
Through
Correct Spelling
Thru
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
Note "thru" in contexts like drive-thru, then recall it’s an exception, not the rule.
Through contains “ough” which is common in English (though, enough).
Consider "through" as the full, formal version to use in official or academic writing.
Thru is commonly seen in informal and quick communication like text messages.
Through is universally accepted in all types of writing, unlike “thru”.
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How Do You Spell Thru Correctly?
Incorrect: He walked thru the park.
Correct: He walked through the park.
Incorrect: The project went thru many changes.
Correct: The project went through many changes.
Through Definitions
In one side and out the opposite or another side
He walked through the door.
Moving around in a place
She looked through the entire wardrobe.
Continuing in time toward completion
They worked through the night.
Because of
He failed through his own fault.
In one side and out the opposite or another side of
Went through the tunnel.
Among or between; in the midst of
A walk through the flowers.
By way of
Climbed in through the window.
By the means or agency of
Bought the antique vase through a dealer.
Into and out of the handling, care, processing, modification, or consideration of
Her application went through our office. Run the figures through the computer.
Here and there in; around
A tour through France.
From the beginning to the end of
Stayed up through the night.
At or to the end of; done or finished with, especially successfully
We are through the initial testing period.
Up to and including
A play that runs through December.
A volume that covers A through D.
Past and without stopping for
Drove through a red light.
Because of; on account of
She succeeded through hard work. He declined the honor through modesty.
From one end or side to another or an opposite end or side
Opened the door and went through.
From beginning to end; completely
I read the article once through.
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.
Over the total distance; all the way
Drove through to their final destination.
To a conclusion or an accomplishment
See a matter through.
Allowing continuous passage; unobstructed
A through street.
Affording transportation to a destination with few or no stops and no transfers
A through bus.
A through ticket.
Continuing on a highway without exiting
Through traffic.
Through lanes.
Passing or extending from one end, side, or surface to another
A through beam.
Having finished; at completion
She was through with the project.
Having no further concern, dealings, or connection
I'm through with him.
Having no more use, value, or potential; washed-up
That swimmer is through as an athlete.
Doomed to death or destruction.
From one side of an opening to the other.
I went through the window.
Entering, then later leaving.
I drove through the town at top speed without looking left or right.
Surrounded by (while moving).
We slogged through the mud for hours before turning back and giving up.
By means of.
This team believes in winning through intimidation.
In consequence of; as a result of.
(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
Passing from one side of something to the other.
Interstate highways form a nationwide system of through roads.
Finished; complete.
They were through with laying the subroof by noon.
Without a future; done for.
After being implicated in the scandal, he was through as an executive in financial services.
No longer interested; wearied or turned off by experience.
She was through with him.
Proceeding from origin to destination without delay due to change of equipment.
The through flight through Memphis was the fastest.
(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.
The arrow went straight through.
From one end to the other.
Others slept; he worked straight through.
She read the letter through.
During a period of time; throughout
He worked through the night.
To the end.
He said he would see it through.
Completely.
Leave the yarn in the dye overnight so the color soaks through.
Out into the open.
The American army broke through at Saint-Lô.
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.
Through the gate of ivory he dismissedHis valiant offspring.
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.
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;
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
Of a route or journey etc.; continuing without requiring stops or changes;
A through street
A through bus
Through traffic
From one end or side to the other;
Jealousy pierced her through
From beginning to end;
Read this book through
Over the whole distance;
This bus goes through to New York
To completion;
Think this through very carefully!
In diameter;
This cylinder measures 15 inches through
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
By means of
She succeeded through hard work.
Through Meaning in a Sentence
He worked through the night to finish the assignment.
We drove through the tunnel quickly.
The river flows through the town.
The light shone through the window.
She sifted through the documents to find the one she needed.
The charity provides support through various programs.
The teacher went through each problem step by step.
The new policy will come into effect through a series of stages.
They stayed together through thick and thin.
He managed to get through to customer service after several attempts.
Through Idioms & Phrases
See it through
To continue with a task until it is completed, despite difficulties.
It's a challenging project, but we'll see it through.
Through the roof
To increase or rise to a very high level.
Demand for the new product went through the roof.
Break through
To overcome an obstacle or barrier.
The research team finally broke through the technical limitations they were facing.
Get through to someone
To successfully communicate and be understood by someone.
It's hard to get through to him when he's so focused on his work.
Through the grapevine
To learn something via gossip or unofficial sources.
I heard through the grapevine that he's moving to another city.
Come through
To finish something successfully or to provide something as promised.
He always comes through for us when we need him.
Through thick and thin
Staying loyal or committed regardless of the situation's difficulty.
They remained best friends through thick and thin.
Go through the motions
To do something without enthusiasm or effort, as a routine.
He's just going through the motions at his job, not really interested.
Through and through
Completely, in every part or aspect.
He's a New Yorker through and through.
Look through
To examine or review something.
Could you look through this report and give me your feedback?
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of through?
/θruː/
What is the root word of through?
The Old English word "þurh."
Which conjunction is used with through?
"Through" can be used with various conjunctions, depending on the context.
Why is it called through?
It originates from the Old English "þurh," meaning moving from one side to another.
Which vowel is used before through?
It depends on context; there’s no specific vowel always used.
Which article is used with through?
Both “a” and “the” can be used, depending on the context.
What is the singular form of through?
"Through" does not have singular/plural forms.
What is the verb form of through?
"Through" does not have a verb form.
Which preposition is used with through?
"Through" itself is often used as a preposition.
Is through an adverb?
Yes.
Is through a vowel or consonant?
It is a word, containing both vowels and consonants.
Is through a countable noun?
No.
Is the through term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used in metaphorical expressions.
What is the plural form of through?
"Through" does not have a plural form.
Is through an abstract noun?
No.
What part of speech is through?
Preposition and adverb.
Is the word “through” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Neither, it's commonly used as a preposition or adverb.
How do we divide through into syllables?
It is not divided as it's a one-syllable word.
What is another term for through?
Via, by means of.
How is through used in a sentence?
"He walked through the park."
Is through a negative or positive word?
It is neutral.
Is through a collective noun?
No.
Is the word through imperative?
No.
Which determiner is used with through?
Determiners like "the" can be used with "through".
Is through a noun or adjective?
No, "through" is a preposition and an adverb.
Is the word through a Gerund?
No.
How many syllables are in through?
One.
What is a stressed syllable in through?
Not applicable, as "through" has only one syllable.
What is the opposite of through?
Around.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
