Through vs. Thru
The English language is constantly changing and evolving as we use words in our everyday worlds. Sometimes, new spellings emerge because of the constant flux in language as we use it to fit our communication needs. At times, these new spellings catch on and become commonplace; at other times, the new spellings are considered to be incorrect. Let's look at through and thru as an example of the same word spelled differently.
Through can function as a preposition, an adverb, or an adjective. All meanings of the word have to do with movement from one side to the other, movement from beginning to end, or completion of a process from beginning to end.
1. The cat crawled through the small opening in the fence and went after the birds in the neighbors' yard.
2. I am almost through reading this book, and then you can borrow it.
3. We are taking a bus tour through the city tomorrow afternoon.
4. Are you nearly through eating your breakfast?
5. We visited our cousins in New York, but we didn't stay long, as we were passing through on the way to the airport.
As you can see, through is the correct spelling. So, what about thru? It is an informal spelling of through that has come into usage more recently. It is still considered, by all sources, to be an incorrect spelling-used in informal communications but not in formal writing. One exception may be the term "drive-thru," which is typically spelled in this manner.
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