This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 3,130,773 times.
Though it is a common mistake, the words "to" and "too" are very easy to differentiate. Once you know how to tell, you can teach others how to get it right too!
Steps
Usage Chart
Using Too and To Correctly
-
1Focus on "too" first. "Too" is used less frequently than "to," so if you know what "too" means, then you can use it just for those specific meanings. You can feel confident that when "too" is not appropriate, "to" is the right choice.[1]
- Try stressing (emphasizing) "too" when spoken, to help yourself assess whether it is the correct word. If the word is meant to be "to," it will sound odd if stressed. "Too" can be emphasized without sounding unusual.
-
2Learn the meanings for "too". The first meaning is "also" or "besides"; the second meaning is "excessively" or "extra". In addition, some people use it to mean "very".[2] Think of too as being relevant when there is an increase in something, such as temperature, difficulty, etc.; for example, "too hot", "too challenging", or "too soft". [3]
- Choose the word "too" when it can be substituted for the word "also."
- For example: "She felt awful too (also)" or "I can see you too (also)".
- Use "too" to modify or emphasize a word.
- For example: "The weather is too (excessively) hot", "I've eaten too (excessively) much", or "The package is too (excessively/extra) big".
- "He wasn't too (very) interested in my book."
Advertisement - Choose the word "too" when it can be substituted for the word "also."
-
3Learn the role of "to." "To" is a preposition. Use "to" for expressing direction, place, or position.[4]
- "To" can be used when going towards something."I am going to the store" or "Will you just go to bed please!"
- "To" can be used when you're doing something in the direction of something or someone, such as: "I am speaking to your friend", or "I am looking to the right".
-
4Understand that "to" is also used when you’re using a verb in the infinitive.
- For example: "To go home", "to catch a mouse", or "to open the door."
-
5Practice telling "to" and "too" apart. Here are a few examples to test yourself with (answers in "Tips" below):
- She's coming [to/too] your party [to/too].
- I'm [to/too] hot [to/too] help you carry [to/too/two] suitcases [to/too] the bus station.
- We are hoping [to/too] be near the festival [to/too].
- It's [to/too] early [to/too] be asking me questions about where I am headed [to/too].
- I hate [to/too] disturb your thoughts but are you ready [to/too] help us with our homework [to/too]?
Community Q&A
-
QuestionShould I say like to or like too?Community AnswerWhat is the context of your phrase? If you want to say 'I like to swim' you should use 'to'. 'Like too' can be used too, but in a different meaning. For example: 'I like too much wine' (In this case ,you don't like an action but you like too much of something).
-
QuestionIs saying "to cute" incorrect?Community AnswerIt depends on context. If someone went from ugly to cute, for example, then "to" is correct. However, if something is overly cute, it's "too" cute.
-
QuestionWhy can't I use (to) in front of (home)?Community AnswerThe word "to" implies direction, the word "too" implies "also". For example, Take me to your home. I am going home, too. Without any other context to your question, this is the best response that can be made.
References
- ↑ http://www.englishgrammar.org/tooto-sothat/
- ↑ http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Two_Too_To.htm
- ↑ http://www.englishgrammar.org/tooto-sothat/
- ↑ http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Two_Too_To.htm
- ↑ Patricia O'Connor, Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English, p. 183, (1998), ISBN 1-57322-625-4
- ↑ http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Two_Too_To.htm
About This Article
To use "too" and "to" correctly, use "too" when you want to say "also" or "excessively," and use "to" as a preposition for expressing direction, place, or position. For example, you would use "too" in "I like cake too" or "I eat too much cake." However, you would use "to" in "Let's go to the cake shop" or "I want to get some cake." An easy way to remember is that "too" is often stressed when it's spoken and "to" is never stressed. To learn how to practice using "too" and "to" correctly, scroll down!