# "Thru" is not a word **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734 "2013-11-12T17:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/61 "2013-11-13T17:32:25Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > You’re rgument seams too bee that cause somewon “mispelt” one word in anotherwise flawless sentence - there is a problem and it shows up as a shiny turd on perfect lawn. > > Isn’t this like complaining that a museum has 4,999 beautiful pieces of art, and one piece of crap? Some would argue that means the one piece of crap isn’t crap - and that the observer needs to change their opinion. And someone else would argue that it means that it’s not really a museum. OP, when you saw the word “thru” was it being pronounced _throo_, or _thruhhh_? If it’s the second, you’re right; it’s not a word. If it’s the first, then yes it is a word. It’s a word that has been spelled incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/62 "2013-11-13T17:53:14Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > …I don’t want to just save a letter. Not good enough. I think there is a difference between “I am through with you” and “I ran a spear thru you”. But the end result is - she still broke my heart. :sad: ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/63 "2013-11-13T18:07:18Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Good. More donuts for the rest of us. \ Once the trans fats are gone you can have them because I do t think they’ll taste as good. And doughnuts are one of my favorite foods!! ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/64 "2013-11-13T18:08:49Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > I notice this spelling fairly often, including on this message board, by people who seem to be making every effort to write well. Every other word is spelt correctly, but then this “thru” spelling shows up like a big turd in the middle of an otherwise immaculate lawn. What is it about writing the word “through” that makes people feel they don’t have time for an extra three key strokes? “Thru” seems to be a legitimate word in the “British English” version of the Cambridge Dictionary Online but is not considered a word in the “American English” version. _English definition of “thru” preposition /θruː/ US not standard › through_ > **[thru](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thru?q=thru)** > > 1. through 2. through ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/65 "2013-11-13T18:40:35Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > 99% of evolution is death. Sure, the language will evolve, but that doesn’t mean that every ugly new alternate spelling should be embraced. Purge the unworthy! I’m trying to commit this to memory so I can [del]steal[/del] re-use it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/66 "2013-11-13T18:46:18Z")
Thru is probably my favorite shortened non-standard spelling. I mean outside of H[sub]2[/sub]O but that is not worth typing, just writing. I usually use through but I actually prefer thru. Through is a stupid relic. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/67 "2013-11-13T19:25:36Z")
> [@bup](#): > > \*Thru \*is older. [It dates back to spelling reform in the 1870’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English-language_spelling_reform). > > Its simplified spelling was also (along with most -\*ough \*words) endorsed by Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency. [The Simplified Spelling Board](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_Spelling_Board). Andrew Carnegie funded the organization and > [@](#): > > The initial 30 members of the Board consisted of authors, professors and dictionary editors, among them Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer, President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia University, Dr. Melvil Dewey (inventor of the Dewey Decimal Classification), Dr. Isaac K. Funk (editor of The Standard Dictionary), former United States Secretary of the Treasury Lyman J. Gage, United States Commissioner of Education William Torrey Harris (and editor-in-chief of the 1909 Webster’s New International Dictionary), publishing magnate Henry Holt, professor Calvin Thomas, and author Mark Twain. There is no solution to the problems of American spelling. Bozuit is right to say that the language is decided by the usage of good writers and ludicrously wrong in thinking that thru isn’t part of this. No two good writers agree on what is good - the American Heritage Usage Board exploded that myth in the 1960s. We all have personal pet peeves. I don’t use thru myself. But I can’t imagine how anyone can argue that many, many good writers use the word and that it isn’t part of the standard language, except perhaps in the most formal of contexts. All that says is that you don’t understand the language, not that you’re a defender of it. Rail against apostrophes in plurals and I’ll be right by your side. This is a personal preference that you can’t - and shouldn’t - enforce on anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/68 "2013-11-13T20:14:58Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > 99% of evolution is death. Sure, the language will evolve, but that doesn’t mean that every ugly new alternate spelling should be embraced. Purge the unworthy! Without evolution, you’d still be a unicellular organism.😛 ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/69 "2013-11-13T20:21:37Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Oh. Well, I just thru it out there. Too much rage!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/70 "2013-11-13T22:44:56Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Agreed. Also rite and valu. Rite is one where the difference is useful (rite/write/right), so I’d resist changing that one. > [@edwards\_beard](#): > > What about the road signs that say “Not a thru street”? If we can handle PED XING, we can handle THRU STREET. > [@What\_the](#): > > Neither is “alot” but I’m going to keep using both. Not specifically to get a rise out of people like you… but the thought is in my mind each time… oh, and don’t even start on how many “…” I use… or do, what do I care !!! There’s [alot](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html) to be said for that. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/71 "2013-11-15T05:07:54Z")
One shortened term I’ve noticed lately is alum. Alum is used in this case meaning alumnus or alumna, not aluminum potassium sulfate, which is an astringent chemical used in pickles. Alumnus is only three letters longer than alum. I’d think one would want be happy to show off one’s vocabulary by using those three letters. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/72 "2013-11-15T05:48:29Z")
Watching this on youtube made me chill quite a bit on such subjects [The history of English (combined) - YouTube](http://youtu.be/H3r9bOkYW9s) though I very much prefer Australians to use British spelling to American for some reason, I can read both fine but really prefer a doughnut to a donut. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/73 "2013-11-15T18:17:38Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > One shortened term I’ve noticed lately is alum. Alum is used in this case meaning alumnus or alumna, not aluminum potassium sulfate, which is an astringent chemical used in pickles. > > Alumnus is only three letters longer than alum. I’d think one would want be happy to show off one’s vocabulary by using those three letters. Or you might be even happier by using a non-gendered term. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/74 "2013-11-15T18:52:05Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Or you might be even happier by using a non-gendered term. What would be the male and female versions of “alum” or “alumnus”? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/75 "2013-11-15T20:32:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > What would be the male and female versions of “alum” or “alumnus”? Alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae. That’s male and female singular followed by male and female plural. Unless I misunderstood the question. “Alum” is a gender-neutral form that does away with the Latinate forms. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/76 "2013-11-15T22:21:08Z")
Alum bugs the hell out of me because I read it as the culinary name for aluminum potassium sulfate. maybe grad would be better if something has to be shortened. Also, there are many sexually ambiguous names out there that can use gender clarification. I say humbug to gender neutral forms. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/77 "2013-11-16T01:51:17Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > What would be the male and female versions of “alum” or “alumnus”? Face, meet palm. And yet this is even worse than it looks. The answer was right there in the post! > [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Alum is used in this case meaning alumnus or alumna… ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/78 "2013-11-16T04:50:29Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae. That’s male and female singular followed by male and female plural. Unless I misunderstood the question. “Alum” is a gender-neutral form that does away with the Latinate forms. Ignorance fought. Thanks for the reply. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734/79 "2013-11-17T00:20:10Z")
Thru might not be a word but “drive thru” is. Seriously, have they ever had a sign that said “drive through”? If so, I’ve never seen such. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thru-is-not-a-word/673734.md?page=3)