To vs. Too? When and How to Use Them!

To or too can be really confusing right? Then there’s also the two to consider. Language can be a challenging thing if one doesn’t polish off their skills with lots of practice.

Students and people can be really hard on themselves when they come across their own writing blunders, like to or too. But instead of berating yourself, it is best to take the opportunity to practice further for perfecting your grammar skills.

We have a range of summer workbooks and printable worksheets that make grammar easy and language fun for the children. If you have been looking for an easy guide to differentiate between to and too, keep reading below!

To or Too? The Difference

Let us start by looking at ‘to’ and its usage in sentences. Being a versatile proposition, to has multiple meanings. Some of these include:

• Until
• Reaching as far as
• Toward

Generally, we use ‘to’ when referring to the relationship between two words. Usually, ‘to’ serves as an infinitive verb or a preposition that joins clauses or words together.

When you add the word ‘to’ before a verb, it classifies as an infinitive verb. There are also very rare cases where ‘to’ serves as an adverb.

Too, on the other hand, is an adverb and it means:

• Additionally
• Also
• Extremely
• Excessively

Apart from expressing an excessive amount of something, too can also indicate an agreement between persons or things. For example, “He irritates me too.”

There is one simple way of distinguishing the two when writing. When you can’t figure whether to or too is the right choice for a sentence, then try to fit synonyms of too in its place in the sentence. If the synonyms look out of place or make your sentence sound incorrect, too is simply not the right choice.

The indication is clear that ‘to’ fits more appropriately in place. However, if a synonym, such as extremely or additionally, etc. fits perfectly in place of too in the sentence, you know the right word choice.

To or Too – How to Pick the Right One

When writing in a flow, we know it can be challenging to remember the differences. Even adults can mistake the too at times but we have a trick that will help everyone.

We stress the importance of mnemonic tricks in our learning resources. They’re the easiest ways of remembering the correct choice of words and prevent you from making embarrassing writing errors.

Hence, our mnemonic trick when you’re unsure of to or too is to use the O trick. We know too means an excessive amount right? It can also mean in addition.

Hence, one way to use ‘too’ correctly is to remember that the word needs an extra O.

Just like it would take an extra person to agree on something, similarly, it would take two ‘Os’ to make too. But if you’re still unsure when writing a sentence, you can always use the synonym trick. Some synonyms for the word ‘too’ include also, very, or really.

When you can’t decide what’s right, try fitting a synonym in place of too. If the sentences sound grammatically correct, then too is the right choice. However, if the sentence seems all wrong to you with the synonym, then simply use ‘to’.

TOO – Using a Comma Before or After it

As far as the grammar rules go, there is really no hard or fast rule regarding it. In fact, the use of a comma before or after ‘too’ is a personal or stylistic choice and depends on your intent. When you are writing a piece, you must review it to analyze whether inserting a comma would make it clearer.

Moreover, if you plan to use a comma as a nonrestrictive clause or an interrupter, you may use a comma to offset it. This is especially helpful if ‘too’ comes right in the middle of a sentence. For example: I, too, would love to contribute to the cause.

However, if you intend to add ‘too’ at the end of your sentence, to refer to addition, the comma choice is up to you.

Final Thoughts

Both children and adults can often come upon confusing language problems. Often we are unsure of whether to use ‘to or too’ in a sentence, especially when writing in a flow. Typically, to is an infinitive verb while too is an adverb.

While the former shows a relationship of connection between elements or words, the latter refers to an excessive amount. With a few mnemonic tricks and lots of language practice, you can help remember the difference between the two easily.