Revised as of
6 Jan 2023
Funnily enough, everyone pretty much has the hang of to and two. However, too many are too attached to to. Please. It’s okay to expand beyond the mere to WHEN you’re adding emphasis! Puh-lease!! Oh, please, is it too too much to ask that y’all get too vigilant in understanding the purpose of too in your texts?
Now, y’all know that an adverb modifies other words. That it brings a greater meaning to the verb it’s next to. Think of how very changes cold or playful when added in front. That’s what too does. It emphasizes the word it’s next to. From it’s cold to it’s too cold. Makes me shiver just reading it. Think I’ll warm myself up with it’s too hot *grin*.
To is a lovely connecting word. It’s ubiquitous, everywhere. Too is much more infrequent, and hence its too frequently butchered status. Notice that too frequently? How did you interpret that sentence? It’s not just frequently that too is slaughtered, it’s very frequently. Too frequently for my taste, ahem.
Two of course is strictly a cardinal number.
| Consider the following: | |
|---|---|
| I wanted to frequently . . .
It begs the question: “to frequently what?” |
I wanted too frequently.
It actually could function just as it is. And I do very often want *grin*. |
| I wanted to frequently hit the bookstores.
My first interpretation is that the character liked going to bookstores. A lot. Of course, I supposed it could be a self-righteous character who wants books banned . . . eek . . . |
I wanted too frequently to eat ice cream.
I can understand that one. I too want to frequently eat ice cream much too often. |
| I wanted to frequently take the bus.
Sure, I guess this character liked taking the bus, for whatever reason. |
I wanted too frequently take the bus.
This could actually work if “take” were an infinitive — “to take”. |
| To be honest . . .
Functions as an introductory phrase and is indicating that you’re gonna come clean about what you think. |
Too be honest . . .
It would work better as “too honest” . . . |
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| To | Too | Two |
|---|---|---|
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Back to the 80s by Graffiti Life was photographed by MsSaraKelly and is licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. — A beautifully done “homage” to the movie Back to the Future. |
Vanille Macarons, September 2010, by snowpea&bokchoi (Flickr: VanilleMacarons) is under the CC-BY-2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — Is there such a thing as too many cookies? |
Two Cows by Kaptain is his own work, which he has released into the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Part of Grammar: | ||
| Adverb; Infinitive marker; Preposition | Adverb | Cardinal number |
| Adverb: So as to be closed or nearly closed Infinitive marker: Used with a verb following when the missing verb is clearly understood Preposition: Identifying the person or thing affected Identifying a particular relationship between one person and another Indicating that two things are attached Concerning or likely to concern (something, especially something abstract) Governing a phrase expressing someone’s reaction to something Used to introduce the second element in a comparison |
[Submodifier] To a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible
Excessively In addition Also |
Equivalent to the sum of one plus one |
| Examples: | ||
| Adverb: He pulled the door to behind him. He pushed the door to. Thankfully, the patient came to. They sat down for lunch and fell to. Infinitive marker: I am going to tell you a story. He asked her to come, but she said she didn’t want to. Preposition: You were terribly unkind to her. Oh, he’s married to Jane. He left his bike chained to the fence. To her astonishment, he smiled It’s nothing to what it once was. |
He always drives too fast.
Is he coming, too? I wanna come too! Too right you’re not going out! |
He is two years old.
He’s a two-year-old. Get two of those! Why do you have two beds in the living room? I picked up two apples and four ears of corn. |
| Derivatives: | ||
| Cardinal number: twain [archaic, masculine version of twā] | ||
| History of the Word: | ||
| Old English tō as an adverb and preposition is related to the Dutch toe and the German zu. | Old English as a stressed form of to.
From the 16th century on, it was spelled too. |
Old English twā (feminine and neuter) is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch twee and the German zwei, from an Indo-European root shared by the Latin and the Greek duo. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for To vs Too vs Two
Apple Dictionary.com
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Release Flier for Two Too Many promotes a film from 1913 and is from the Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences through the Chicago-based publisher, Selig Polyscope Co. The image is in the public domain and found via Wikimedia Commons.
