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With so many similar and easily confused words in the English language, it’s no wonder that writers are constantly under a lot of stress. This is especially common in formal writing: some words simply have different meanings, while some mean the same thing but only one can be used in formal speech. One example is the pair thru vs. through. Though these two words are interchangeable, you’d only see or use one of them in an essay or a research paper.
Thru vs. Through: Clearing Up the Confusion
Key Takeaways
- “Through” is the standard and correct spelling used in formal writing and most contexts. It means moving in one side and out the other, or completing a process or journey.
- “Thru” is an informal, simplified spelling often used in specific contexts, like signs or abbreviations (e.g., “drive-thru” or “thru traffic”). It’s generally not used in formal writing.
So, if you’re writing formally or want to be grammatically correct, use “through.” If you’re in an informal or casual context, “thru” might be acceptable.
Thru vs. Through | Definition and Usage
Both words can be used as adjectives, adverbs, or prepositions, but THROUGH is a preferred spelling in standard English, while THRU is a spelling that is only acceptable in informal American English speech.
There are many ways how these words can be used in a sentence. For example, you can see your parents walking up to your front door through or thru the window. After that, your parents will open the door and walk through or thru it. Finally, when you’re describing someone the directions to a restaurant or a bar, you might tell them not to enter a certain street because this isn’t a through or thru street.
In writing, however, it is almost always preferred to use through. The uses of thru are very limited. For instance, you can often see signs near restaurants that say “drive-thru“, not “drive-through“. You also might come across traffic signs that say “no thru traffic”.
In all the other circumstances, you should prefer the longer spelling that is through. You can memorize it by thinking about it this way: there’s an “o” in through that stands for the fact that this is the official spelling of the word. This way, you’ll never get this pair confused again.
Tips to Get You Through
Here’s a quick guide to help us all use these two spellings correctly and confidently.
“Through”: This is the standard English spelling. We use it in formal writing, such as essays, reports, and other official documents.
- Examples: “We walked through the park.” “I read through the document.”
“Thru”: A less formal spelling, usually found in informal contexts or signage, like at a drive-thru.
- Examples: “Let’s grab some lunch at the drive-thru.”
Related Confused Words
In our discussion on commonly confused words, we’ll explore the slight but important distinctions between similarly spelled words like “through,” “thought,” and “though.” These words have vastly different meanings and are often mixed up due to their close spelling.
Through vs Thought
- Through [Preposition/Adverb/Adjective]: Refers to moving in one side and out the other side of an opening, channel, or location.
- Thought [Noun]: The past tense of “think” and refers to an idea, plan, opinion, or the process of thinking.
Example Usage:
- Through: We walked through the forest.
- Thought: Our thought process needs careful evaluation.
Through vs. Though
- Through [Preposition/Adverb/Adjective]: Denotes movement from one end to the other or completion of an action.
- Though [Conjunction/Adverb]: Used to introduce a contrasting idea or as a synonym for “however” when used at the end of a sentence.
Example Usage:
- Through: We drove through the tunnel despite the heavy traffic.
- Though: We wanted to leave, though the weather made us stay.
Thru vs. Through Examples
Examples of “Through” in Sentences
- We walked through the forest.
- The train travels through several states.
- I read the report all the way through.
- They are going through a difficult time.
- The project was completed through the joint efforts of many teams.
Examples of “Thru” in Sentences
- The coffee shop has a drive-thru window.
- I’ll meet you at the diner, it’s right off the highway exit, can’t miss it.
- The sign read “Thru traffic keep left.”
- We’re open Monday thru Friday from 9 to 5.
- You can follow the story on our blog, start reading from Post 1 thru to the latest update.
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