'Through' means from one side to the other, or finished; 'threw' is the past tense of 'throw'.
Preposition/adverb. Moving from one side to the other. Also: completely finished or done.
She walked through the door without knocking.
The proposal went through three rounds of revisions.
I'm through with that project — the final version is submitted.
Verb. Past tense of 'throw'. Sent something through the air with force.
He threw the ball across the pitch to his teammate.
She threw the old documents into the recycling bin.
The sudden news threw the whole team into confusion.
Common mistake
Writing 'threw' instead of the preposition: "We drove threw the tunnel" (correct: through). They are homophones — both sound identical — so the confusion happens purely in writing.
Trick to remember it
'Through' is long because you pass all the way through something. 'Threw' is short because throwing is a quick action — you release and it is done.
Quick rule
Is it the preposition for passing from one side to another, or meaning 'finished'? 'Through'. Is it the past tense of the verb 'throw'? 'Threw'.
Did you know?
The combination -OUGH has at least six different pronunciations in English: through (oo), thought (aw), though (oh), tough (uff), thorough (uh), cough (off). This makes it one of the most notorious spelling patterns for English learners worldwide.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The hiker walked _____ the dense forest for six hours before finding the trail.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
In frustration, she _____ her phone onto the sofa and left the room.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is it the preposition for passing from one side to another, or meaning 'finished'? 'Through'. Is it the past tense of the verb 'throw'? 'Threw'.
Writing 'threw' instead of the preposition: "We drove threw the tunnel" (correct: through). They are homophones — both sound identical — so the confusion happens purely in writing.
'Through' is long because you pass all the way through something. 'Threw' is short because throwing is a quick action — you release and it is done.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy