Sound-alike words
To vs. Too vs. Two
To shows direction or comes before a verb, as in go to school or want to eat. Too means also or more than enough, as in me too or too hot. Two is the number 2.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| to | preposition | showing direction, a destination or the person who receives something |
| preposition | used before the base form of a verb, as in to swim or to read | |
| too | adverb | also, or more than is wanted, needed or possible |
| two | adjective | being the number 2, one more than one |
To
preposition: showing direction, a destination or the person who receives something
- We walked to the farmers market on Saturday.
- Please give the forms to the front desk.
preposition: used before the base form of a verb, as in to swim or to read
- I want to learn how to swim this summer.
- Ben forgot to lock the back door.
Too
adverb: also, or more than is wanted, needed or possible
- The soup is too salty to eat.
- My cousin wants to come to the concert too.
Two
adjective: being the number 2, one more than one
- We have two cats and a hamster.
- The flight leaves in two hours.
How to remember the difference
Too has an extra O because it means extra: too much, or also. Two is the number, and it shares TW with twin, twice and twelve. Everything else is to.
Good to know
When too means also, a comma before it is optional: I like jazz too, or I like jazz, too. Both are standard, and many editors leave out the comma in short sentences.
Spot the mistake
This coffee is
totoo hot to drink right now.Correct: This coffee is too hot to drink right now.
I'm going
tooto the store for milk.Correct: I'm going to the store for milk.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. Can I come to the beach ?
Answer: too. It means also, so use too.
2. The game starts in hours, so we have time for lunch.
Answer: two. This is the number 2, so use two.