How to spell through
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
through
T-H-R-O-U-G-H
The part to watch: ough says "oo". The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Through sounds like "throo", but the "oo" sound is spelt ough. Threw, the past of throw, sounds the same.
Through is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with the letters ough or augh. The letters ough make at least five different sounds, and augh often says "or". Learn these words by sight, as a family.
Common mistakes with through
- Wrong: thruRight: through
- Wrong: throughtRight: through
A way to remember it
Through ends with the same four letters as rough and tough, o, u, g, h, even though it sounds different.
Through in syllables
through
Through has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
The train went through a long tunnel.
Through on the statutory list
Through is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with through, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the letters ough or augh
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as through.
More words
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between through and threw?
They sound the same. Through means in one side and out of the other: "through the tunnel". Threw is the past of throw: "She threw the ball."
Spelling is one part of the picture
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