When you write or text, should you use threw or through? If the context of your sentence relates to something you tossed, then threw (the past tense of the verb throw) is the correct word to use.
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What Is Threw?
Threw is the past tense of throw, a verb that comes from the Old English thrāwan. Back then, that word meant “to twist or turn,” and it was West Germanic in origin.
To throw often means to toss or hurl something, but it has some other uses as well. You’ll see some of them in the examples, and we’ll talk about them in a bit.
Examples:
- Jimmy threw a tantrum.
- The unexpected setback threw me for a loop.
- She threw the old papers into the garbage can.
- He threw cold water to my face.
- Sam threw a curveball!
- She threw a surprise party for her best friend.
Fun Fact: You’ll find the word “throw” in several idioms, including the popular stone’s throw. away.
What Is Through?
Through can be a preposition, adjective, or adverb. It often has to do with passage between two sides of something. However, it can also pertain to a point in time, a final destination, or being finished with something. We’ll go into more detail about all that later, but the examples will show different usages.
The word itself comes from the Old English thurh, which had a Germanic origin. Around 1300, the spelling changed to the thr- we see today.
Examples:
- Is there any way through that dense brush?
- The senators pushed through the celebration.
- The neighbors erected a barrier to keep commuters from using their streets as a through route.
- After your latest betrayal, we are through as friends.
- Don’t go through the shed!
- She slept through most of the movie.
- When our flight was canceled, our travel plans fell through.
What’s the Difference?
To use threw or through correctly, you have to know they have entirely different meanings.
Threw is always a verb and the past tense of throw. Again, it means to propel something or to cause some kind of state of events or feelings to occur.
On the other hand, through commonly refers to the idea of one thing being able to pass through another. It’s an adjective, adverb, or preposition and can also relate to travel or to being finished with something.
What about the word thru? It’s a non-standard spelling of through that you can use informally. It would always be incorrect to write something like “He thru the football 40 yards downfield.”
Which One Should You Use?
Now that we’ve gone over basic meanings and seen examples, let’s go deeper into how to use these words. This should give you a full understanding of which one to use and for what.
When and How to Use Threw
As the past tense of throw, you can use threw to indicate tossing/hurling/propelling something in the past. A classic example is throwing a ball.
It can also show that there has been a sudden change in status. For example, an argument between friends could throw a party into disorder.
Finally, this verb can mean to lose a game or contest intentionally. Infamously, the Chicago Black Sox took bribes to lose the 1919 World Series on purpose; they threw the series.
When and How to Use Through
The most common usage of through is as a preposition related to the idea of passing through something. Some examples:
- Walking through a house
- Looking through a window
- Traveling through a state
Tip: The correct expression or correct phrase is “to go through” and not “to go threw.”
Also, the adverb form can refer to a point or passage in time. For example, you can sleep through an alarm or leave halfway through a performance.
As an adjective, through can describe a route that gets you to a certain destination. For example:
Take a flight that starts in Los Angeles, stops in Chicago, and continues to New York. Passengers going from LA to NY are on a through flight to the latter.
- A road that isn’t a through street doesn’t connect to other roads.
The adjective form can also mean something’s finished or you no longer want anything to do with something/someone. Completing a job means the job is through. After bad luck with a car brand, you might be through with it.
As an adverb, the word helps convey a sense of movement or penetration. Example:
- The light came shining through.
Trick To Remember the Correct Spelling
Here’s a tip for remembering the spelling of through:
- From time to time, everyone goes through a rough patch.
Here’s one for threw:
- When she threw the ball, it really flew.
Final Thoughts
Threw and through have the same pronunciation, making them one of the most commonly confused words. But remember, they’re different parts of speech with totally different meanings. While through can be three parts of speech (adj/adv/prep), threw is always a verb. With our examples, definitions, and tips, you should be good to go with using threw or through.
