By vs. Through: Know the Difference

By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023

"By" often indicates the agent performing an action or means of achieving something, while "Through" suggests movement from one side to another or a medium of passage.

By vs. Through

Key Differences

"By" is commonly used to attribute an action to a person or thing, showing who or what performs or causes something. "Through," on the other hand, often denotes movement within or continuity within something. For example, "The letter was sent by John" highlights the sender, while "The letter arrived through the postal service" emphasizes the medium of delivery.

Nov 15, 2023

"By" can indicate proximity or location, often used to describe something being near or alongside something else. "Through," in contrast, conveys a sense of passage or movement from one end or side to another, as in moving through a tunnel.

Nov 15, 2023

When dealing with time, "by" usually signifies a deadline or an end point, as in "Complete the task by 5 PM." "Through," however, suggests a duration or a period, like "The office is open Monday through Friday."

Nov 15, 2023

In the context of means or method, "by" describes the way something is done, such as "By using a map, we found the location." Conversely, "through" can imply a process or sequence, as in "We succeeded through hard work."

Nov 15, 2023

"By" can also be used to indicate the measure or increment, like "He won by five points." In contrast, "through" is often used to express a range or an exhaustive journey, such as "We traveled through several countries."

Nov 15, 2023

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Comparison Chart

Agent or Means

Indicates who or what performs an action

Suggests a medium or channel used

Nov 15, 2023

Spatial Relation

Denotes proximity or nearness

Implies movement from one side to another

Nov 15, 2023

Temporal Aspect

Signifies a deadline or end point

Conveys a duration or continuous period

Nov 15, 2023

Method or Process

Describes the way something is done

Indicates a process or sequence

Nov 15, 2023

Measure or Extent

Used to indicate extent of difference

Expresses a range or thorough journey

Nov 15, 2023

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By and Through Definitions

By

Describes how something is done.

He traveled by train.

Nov 15, 2023

Through

Implies moving from one side to another.

She walked through the door.

Nov 15, 2023

By

Denotes nearness to something.

The store is by the park.

Nov 15, 2023

Through

Indicates a continuous period.

The shop is open Monday through Friday.

Nov 15, 2023

By

Signifies a time limit.

Submit your report by Monday.

Nov 15, 2023

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Through

In one side and out the opposite or another side of

Went through the tunnel.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Close to; next to

The window by the door.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Among or between; in the midst of

A walk through the flowers.

Oct 19, 2023

By

With the use or help of; through

We came by the back road.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

By way of

Climbed in through the window.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Up to and beyond; past

We drove by the house.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

By the means or agency of

Bought the antique vase through a dealer.

Oct 19, 2023

By

At or to

Stopped by the bakery.

Came by the house.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Into and out of the handling, care, processing, modification, or consideration of

Her application went through our office. Run the figures through the computer.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the period of; during

Sleeping by day.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Here and there in; around

A tour through France.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Not later than

By 5:30 PM.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From the beginning to the end of

Stayed up through the night.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the amount of

Letters by the thousands.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

At or to the end of; done or finished with, especially successfully

We are through the initial testing period.

Oct 19, 2023

By

To the extent of

Shorter by two inches.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Up to and including

A play that runs through December.

A volume that covers A through D.

Oct 19, 2023

By

According to

Played by the rules.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Past and without stopping for

Drove through a red light.

Oct 19, 2023

By

With respect to

Siblings by blood.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Because of; on account of

She succeeded through hard work. He declined the honor through modesty.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the name of

Swore by the Bible to tell the truth.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one end or side to another or an opposite end or side

Opened the door and went through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Through the agency or action of

Was killed by a bullet.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From beginning to end; completely

I read the article once through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Used to indicate a succession of specified individuals, groups, or quantities

One by one they left. They were persuaded little by little.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Throughout the whole extent or thickness; thoroughly

Warmed the leftovers clear through.

Got soaked through in the rain.

A letter that was shot through with the writer's personality.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Used in multiplication and division

Multiply 4 by 6 to get 24.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Over the total distance; all the way

Drove through to their final destination.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Used with measurements

A room 12 by 18 feet.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

To a conclusion or an accomplishment

See a matter through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Toward. Used to express direction with points of the compass

South by east.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Allowing continuous passage; unobstructed

A through street.

Oct 19, 2023

By

On hand; nearby

Stand by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Affording transportation to a destination with few or no stops and no transfers

A through bus.

A through ticket.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Aside; away

We put it by for later.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Continuing on a highway without exiting

Through traffic.

Through lanes.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Up to, alongside, and past

The car raced by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Passing or extending from one end, side, or surface to another

A through beam.

Oct 19, 2023

By

At or to one's home or current location

Stop by later today.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Having finished; at completion

She was through with the project.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Into the past

As years go by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Having no further concern, dealings, or connection

I'm through with him.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Variant of bye1.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Having no more use, value, or potential; washed-up

That swimmer is through as an athlete.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Near or next to.

The mailbox is by the bus stop.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Doomed to death or destruction.

Oct 19, 2023

By

From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.

The stream runs by our back door.

He ran straight by me.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one side of an opening to the other.

I went through the window.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval).

Be back by ten o'clock!.

We'll find someone by the end of March.

We will send it by the first week of July.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Entering, then later leaving.

I drove through the town at top speed without looking left or right.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Surrounded by (while moving).

We slogged through the mud for hours before turning back and giving up.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Following a passive verb.

The matter was decided by the chairman.

The boat was swamped by the water.

He was protected by his body armour.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

By means of.

This team believes in winning through intimidation.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Following a noun.

There was a call by the unions for a 30% pay rise.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

In consequence of; as a result of.

Oct 19, 2023

By

(not in common modern use) Following an adjective.

I was aghast by what I saw.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

(North America) To (or up to) and including, with all intermediate values.

From 1945 through 1991;

The numbers 1 through 9;

Your membership is active through March 15, 2013

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.

There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Passing from one side of something to the other.

Interstate highways form a nationwide system of through roads.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates a means of achieving something: Involving/using the means of.

I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking.

By Pythagoras' theorem, we can calculate the length of the hippopotamus.

We went by bus.

I discovered it by chance.

By 'maybe' she means 'no'.

The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Finished; complete.

They were through with laying the subroof by noon.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates an authority according to which something is done.

By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Without a future; done for.

After being implicated in the scandal, he was through as an executive in financial services.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Invokes an authority in an oath.

By Jove! I think she's got it!

By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

No longer interested; wearied or turned off by experience.

She was through with him.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates a means of classification or organisation.

I sorted the items by category.

Table 1 shows details of our employees broken down by sex and age.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Proceeding from origin to destination without delay due to change of equipment.

The through flight through Memphis was the fastest.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates the amount of change, difference or discrepancy

Our stock is up by ten percent.

His date of birth was wrong by ten years.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

(association football) In possession of the ball beyond the last line of defence but not necessarily the goalkeeper; through on goal.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.

We went through the book page by page.

We crawled forward by inches.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one side to the other by way of the interior.

The arrow went straight through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Acted on in units of the specified size or measure. (Sometimes hyperbolically)

Sold by the yard; cheaper if bought by the gross

He drinks brandy by the bucketful!

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one end to the other.

Others slept; he worked straight through.

She read the letter through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Per; with or in proportion to each.

His health was deteriorating by the day.

The pickers are paid by the bushel.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

During a period of time; throughout

He worked through the night.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Indicates a referenced source: According to.

He cheated by his own admission.

By my reckoning, we should be nearly there.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

To the end.

He said he would see it through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.

It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix.

The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot.

The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Completely.

Leave the yarn in the dye overnight so the color soaks through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

(horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.

She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Out into the open.

The American army broke through at Saint-Lô.

Oct 19, 2023

By

At, with, among

Are you eating by Rabbi Fischer? (at the house of)

By Chabad, it's different. (with, among)

Oct 19, 2023

Through

A large slab of stone laid in a dry-stone wall from one side to the other; a perpend.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Along a path which runs past the speaker.

I watched as it passed by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

(obsolete) A coffin, sarcophagus or tomb of stone; a large slab of stone laid on a tomb.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the vicinity, near.

There was a shepherd close by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From end to end of, or from side to side of; from one surface or limit of, to the opposite; into and out of at the opposite, or at another, point; as, to bore through a piece of timber, or through a board; a ball passes through the side of a ship.

Oct 19, 2023

By

To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.

I'll stop by on my way home from work.

We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Between the sides or walls of; within; as, to pass through a door; to go through an avenue.

Through the gate of ivory he dismissedHis valiant offspring.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Aside, away.

The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

By means of; by the agency of.

Through these hands this science has passed with great applause.

Material things are presented only through their senses.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Out of the way, off to one side.

A by path, a by room

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Over the whole surface or extent of; as, to ride through the country; to look through an account.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Subsidiary, incidental.

By catch, a by issue

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Among or in the midst of; - used to denote passage; as, a fish swims through the water; the light glimmers through a thicket.

Oct 19, 2023

By

.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From the beginning to the end of; to the end or conclusion of; as, through life; through the year.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Alternative spelling of bye.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one end or side to the other; as, to pierce a thing through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; as, come and sit by me.

By foundation or by shady rivuletHe sought them both.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From beginning to end; as, to read a letter through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

On; along; in traversing. Compare 5.

Long labors both by sea and land he bore.

By land, by water, they renew the charge.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

To the end; to a conclusion; to the ultimate purpose; as, to carry a project through.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Near to, while passing; hence, from one to the other side of; past; as, to go by a church.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Going or extending through; going, extending, or serving from the beginning to the end; thorough; complete; as, a through line; a through ticket; a through train. Also, admitting of passage through; as, a through bridge.

Oct 19, 2023

By

Used in specifying adjacent dimensions; as, a cabin twenty feet by forty.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Having finished or arrived at completion;

Certain to make history before he's done

It's a done deed

After the treatment, the patient is through except for follow-up

Almost through with his studies

Oct 19, 2023

By

Against.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Of a route or journey etc.; continuing without requiring stops or changes;

A through street

A through bus

Through traffic

Oct 19, 2023

By

With, as means, way, process, etc.; through means of; with aid of; through; through the act or agency of; as, a city is destroyed by fire; profit is made by commerce; to take by force.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From one end or side to the other;

Jealousy pierced her through

Oct 19, 2023

By

Near; in the neighborhood; present; as, there was no person by at the time.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

From beginning to end;

Read this book through

Oct 19, 2023

By

Passing near; going past; past; beyond; as, the procession has gone by; a bird flew by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Over the whole distance;

This bus goes through to New York

Oct 19, 2023

By

Aside; as, to lay by; to put by.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

To completion;

Think this through very carefully!

Oct 19, 2023

By

Out of the common path; aside; - used in composition, giving the meaning of something aside, secondary, or incidental, or collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice; as, by-line, by-place, by-play, by-street. It was formerly more freely used in composition than it is now; as, by-business, by-concernment, by-design, by-interest, etc.

Oct 19, 2023

Through

In diameter;

This cylinder measures 15 inches through

Oct 19, 2023

By

So as to pass a given point;

Every hour a train goes past

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Throughout the entire extent;

Got soaked through in the rain

I'm frozen through

A letter shot through with the writer's personality

Knew him through and through

Boards rotten through and through

Oct 19, 2023

By

In reserve; not for immediate use;

Started setting aside money to buy a car

Put something by for her old age

Has a nestegg tucked away for a rainy day

Oct 19, 2023

Through

Denotes the means of passage.

The message was conveyed through email.

Nov 15, 2023

By

Indicates who performs an action.

The cake was baked by Sarah.

Nov 15, 2023

Through

Suggests completion of a process.

He read through the report.

Nov 15, 2023

By

Indicates a measure or difference.

He won the race by two seconds.

Nov 15, 2023

Through

Expresses thoroughness or entirety.

They searched through the entire house.

Nov 15, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

Can "through" represent a period?

Yes, it often conveys a continuous duration.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "by" indicate a method?

Yes, "by" often describes how something is done.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "by" used for deadlines?

Yes, it frequently signifies a time limit.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "through" imply thoroughness?

Yes, it can express completeness or entirety.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "through" used in expressions of range?

Yes, it can express a range or series.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "through" mean completion of a process?

Yes, it often suggests finishing something entirely.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "through" convey a sense of passage?

Yes, it's often used to denote passage or movement.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "by" signify proximity?

Yes, it can indicate something being near.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "through" used for spatial movement?

Yes, it implies movement from one side to another.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "by" denote an agent?

Yes, it indicates who or what performs an action.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "by" suggest a measure of difference?

Yes, it's used to indicate the extent of difference.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "by" have a role in passive voice?

Yes, it's frequently used in passive constructions.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "by" indicate direct involvement?

Yes, it often indicates direct involvement or participation.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "by" used for indicating increments?

Yes, it can describe increments or measures.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "through" suitable for describing experiences?

Yes, it can describe experiences or journeys.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "by" imply authorship?

Yes, it's used to attribute authorship or creation.

Nov 15, 2023

Can "through" be used in the context of communication?

Yes, to denote the medium or channel of communication.

Nov 15, 2023

Does "through" imply a thorough examination?

Yes, it can suggest a detailed or exhaustive examination.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "by" applicable in artistic attribution?

Yes, it's used for attributing art to its creator.

Nov 15, 2023

Is "through" used to express a range in numbers or time?

Yes, it's used to indicate a range or sequence in numbers or time.

Nov 15, 2023

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About Author

Written by

Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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