Is It To, Too, or Two? We’ll Tell You
To has a few functions, but it’s mainly used as a preposition that means “in a direction towards.” Too can mean “in addition to,” “as well,” “extremely,” “excessively,” or “very.” Two refers to the cardinal number (2), which is the sum of one plus one.
She wanted a gift, too.
The young girl cried because she wanted two pieces of candy, but I only had one.
What’s the difference between to, too, and two?
All too often, people get confused with homophones. After all, they’re words with different spellings and meanings but identical pronunciations. The words to, too, and two are no different. We’re going to teach you two things today: what these words mean and ways to remember how to use the word choice correctly, too.
When to use to
The word to has a few different uses. It’s usually used as a preposition—a word “that connects a noun or pronoun to other information in a sentence.” Think of it as meaning “in a direction towards.”
The pack of wolves traveled from Oregon to California.
However, to can also be part of an infinitive verb, such as in “to feel,” “to dance,” and “to be.” Infinitives are formed using to and the base form of the verb.
We are going to drive around the neighborhood to look for her lost cat.
When to use too
Too can also be used in more than one way. When used as an adverb, it means “in addition,” “also,” or “as well.”
Not only did they have a Ferris wheel at the county fair, but they had a petting zoo as well.
It can also mean “excessively,” “very,” or “extremely.” In these cases, it’s functioning as an intensifier.
I warned her that the movie was extremely scary for the kids.
The phrase too late another example of when to use too. This is used when you’re trying to state that the time to do something has passed.
It’s too late to apologize.
When to use two
Two is a noun that refers to the “number that is the sum of one plus one (2),” or “the second in a set or series.”
They bought two of each.
Section two of the student-athlete contract explicitly states that players must adhere to curfew.
Two can also be used as part of a compound adjective—a word that modifies a noun—that means “totaling two.”
