Across vs Through
Across and Through are two words that convey the sense of movement, but with some difference, making it necessary to know the difference between across and through if we are to use the two words appropriately. As a matter of fact both across and through can be used for a movement from one side of an area to another. First and foremost, both across and through are principally used as prepositions and adverbs. Though is used as an adjective at times too. There is, of course, a major difference between the two words when it comes to their inner meaning.
What does Across mean?
Across gives the sense of on. Hence, it means movement on a surface. Observe the sentences given below:
We walked across the ice.
We ran across the meadow.
I moved across the road to the hotel.
In the first sentence given above, you get the idea that the people walked on the surface of the ice. In the second sentence, you understand that the speakers ran on the meadow. In the third sentence, also, the same meaning as discussed in the first two sentences is given. It says the narrator walked on the road crossing it to the hotel.
It is important to note that the word through has a special usage when it comes to its association with anything long and thin as in the following example.
Robert swam across the river.
The sentence given above is right.
However, if one say,
Robert swam through the river
Then, this sentence is wrong in usage. This is because of the fact that a river is an object that is long and thin.
The word across is used suggestive of movement in fields and deserts too as in the sentence given below.
We moved across the field.
Look at the following sentence.
We jumped across the fence.
In the sentence, the word across gives the sense of on the other side of.
Suspension Bridge Across the River
What does Through mean?
On the other hand, the word through gives the sense of in and hence it suggests movement in three-dimensional space.
We walked carefully through the forest.
Seeing a hooded figure coming in through the doorway, Mrs. Black shrieked.
I ran through the crowd.
In the first sentence, you get the idea that the people walked carefully in the depths of the forest. In the second sentence, you get the idea that a figure walking into a building through a door. In the third sentence, you get the same idea of someone moving through something as the narrator running amidst a crowd. It also gives the meaning of moving through a three-dimensional space.
Arrow Through the Ring
What is the difference between Across and Through?
• Across gives the sense of on. Hence, it means movement on a surface.
• On the other hand, the word through gives the sense of in and hence it suggests movement in three-dimensional space. This is one of the main differences between the two words, across and through.
• It is important to note that the word through has a special usage when it comes to its association with anything long and thin.
• The word across is used suggestive of movement in fields and deserts too.
• Sometimes the word across the word across gives the sense of on the other side of.
Images Courtesy:
- Suspension Bridge Across the River by muddum27 (CC BY 2.0)
- Arrow through the ring by Stefan-Xp (CC BY-SA 3.0 )
