For example: “Please read Chapters two through four.” In that example would it mean you also read chapter four, or just two and three? Or “we’re visiting February through April”. Would this include April?
In the UK we would say “read chapters two to four’ meaning four is included. Is it the same thing?
I’ve heard it used in several places recently and I don’t get it. Thanks!
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Two through four means two, three, and four.
It would mean read chapters 2, 3, and 4
>In the UK we would say “read chapters two to four’ meaning four is included. Is it the same thing?
yep
Four is included in that usage. Reading chapters 2 through 4 means you read 3 chapters.
Just like if you said you went through a tunnel, it doesn’t mean you got to it and stopped.
Staying through April, in the context you describe includes April, however when that large of a time frame it can be expected to be an estimate. As in, you are staying for most of April or perhaps even into a couple days of May.
> In the UK we would say “read chapters two to four’ meaning four is included. Is it the same thing?
Yes, they’re synonyms in this context. Either “to” or “through” would be a common way to phrase this here.
Through has the same usage in your context as saying “go through the tunnel.” You wouldn’t stop at the outside of a tunnel if someone said “go through the tunnel,” correct?
Frankly the UK usage of “to” seems off to me as an American. If someone said “read chapters one to five,” I’d probably stop at the end of chapter 4 since I read TO 5. Similarly to if you told me to go to the tunnel – I’d stop once I reached it.
>In the UK we would say “read chapters two to four’ meaning four is included. Is it the same thing?
The two have the same meaning. But in the US, “2 to 4” means read 2, then 3, but stop at 4. Compare “go to the doorway” to “go *through* the doorway.” For the former, stopping at the doorway is implied. The same usage is the case for reading chapters of a book.
To me there’s a slight difference in connotation even though they essentially mean the same thing. When using “to” the emphasis is more on the two items mentioned and what’s in between isn’t as important. Using “through” to me implies just as much importance on what’s in the middle.
I don’t know what year it was in high school or college but the math textbook would have questions she didn’t want. It would be like 2 through 5, 7, 10 through 12, etc. Through would be the first and last number
When you go through a tunnel do you stop at the beginning of the tunnel, or do you go all of the way to the other side of it?
Two through four means read all three chapters.
February through April means some part of February until some part of April, which may be just a few days or the entire month on either end.
“Through” generally includes the entirety of the ones on each end, so “two through four” would mean from the beginning of two to the end of four.
So yes, it’s the same thing. Probably just another example of “two peoples separated by a common language.”
The only time you’d stop at the final unit mentioned would be if you said “up to” before it. So, “read up to chapter 4” would mean you would stop at the end of chapter 3.” I guess you might also say “read to chapter 4” but that’s kind of ambiguous; could be read either way I think.
Your example giving a period of time gets kind of interesting. If someone said, “I’m staying February to April” I would think they’re leaving at the beginning of April. And if someone said, “I’ll stay from 2pm to 4pm,” they mean they’ll leave at 4.
Anyways, it does seem like there’s room for confusion here, and when in doubt, best to ask for clarification.
Meaning every bit from the beginning of chapter two until the end of chapter four
Yes, including 4 and April.
Interesting question. It’s one of those language things we just ‘know’ but have never given a moment’s thought!
Yes in that context it means the same.
When you’re using it to express a range it includes the first and last part of that range.
So “read chapters 1 through 4” means read chapter 1, 2, 3, and 4
“Complete steps 2 through 5″ means do step, 2, 3, 4 and 5”
To our ears saying “read chapters 1 to 4” actually sounds a little unclear if you are trying to include chapter 4. I would assume that you are, but it’s not as commonly used in that context, whereas “through” feels more clear in conveying that you are including the last number/item in the range”
It’s inclusive of the end of the range.
“Read chapters two through four” means you read from the beginning of chapter two till the end of chapter four. All the way through ever chapter between those two end points.
“Read chapters two to four” would be interpreted as stopping when you get to chapter four so you would only be reading chapters two and three.
All the way to the end of Chapter 4. All the way through the end of April. Same meaning as in the UK. I think anyone giving you different information just doesn’t understand it themselves.
“Go to the tunnel.”
“Go through the tunnel.”
It’s more precise language that is also less confusing than “two to four” “two two four?” “To two for?”…
Yup, ‘through’ has the connotation of ‘all the way to the end of’, especially in your example. So ‘chapter 2 through 4’ becomes ‘chapter 2 all the way to end of 4’. If you’re driving through the night, you are driving all the way to the end of the night. Not a perfect rule I’m sure but I hope it helps
Through would include the last item. So visiting February through april is February, March, AND April. Chapters two through four is chapters two, three, AND all of four.
Two “to” four would mean stop at 4. The same way drive “to” a tunnel means your destination is the tunnel entrance, while drive “through” a tunnel means your destination is on the other side.
If I heard “two to four” rather than “two through four” it would make me think that English might not be that persons first language.
The UK convention seems backwards to me. You need to read ***through*** to the end of chapter 4. If you’re reading chapter 2 ***to*** 4, I would assume you would stop after reading chapter 3 since you were told to read TO chapter 4, not *through* the chapter.
If I told you to walk TO a parking lot, you’d get to the parking lot and consider the task accomplished. If I told you to walk THROUGH the parking lot, you’d assume you needed to walk through the lot to the end of it rather than just walking TO it and stopping.
I was taught in elementary school that ‘*n* to *m*’ excludes *m*, and ‘*n* through *m*’ includes *m*.
Your “to” means the same as our “through” in this case: “chapters two, three and four” and “February, March and April.”