Legal Writing

Threw and Through

By Maeve Maddox

When I read the expression ?through me for a loop? in a recent comment, I can tell you, it threw me for a loop!

I decided to cruise the web and see if this version of the expression had become common.

It has.

Admittedly most of the usage I found occurs in comments to articles, in forums, and on the sites of non-professional writers, but it?s out there:

…when… myspace page came up, it through me for a loop.

This question through me for a loop with its emphasis on reflective transfer.

…something happened yesterday that really through me for a loop.

I must admit the appearance of wood through me for a loop.

The menu through me for a loop.

Since such things are catching, I?ll review the difference between threw and through.

The word threw is the simple past of the verb to throw, “to propel through the air”:
throw threw (have) thrown

The word through is a preposition used to indicate penetration or passage:
The bullet traveled through the vest. The hikers crawled through the low tunnel.

To throw someone for a loop is to confuse or shock a person. To knock someone for a loop has the same meaning:
The news of her advisor?s death knocked her for a loop.

The words threw and through are pronounced alike, but, so far anyway, they have different spellings in standard English.

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on January 28, 2010 (boomark / email).