To – Two – Too: When these three words are confused, it is probably just a typo because it seems most people have these figured out. Two is the number, too means also, and the other one is the “where” kind of to.
To get a little more grammatical about it:
To is a preposition, starting a prepositional phrase:
- to the bank
- to me
- to school
But what about the to that isn’t in a prepositional phrase, but is put right before a verb to indicate an infinitive?
- to go
- to run
- to watch
According to the sources I have found, the to that is part of an infinitive is also a preposition. I disagree, but I don’t know what else it would be. Anyone know?
Two is the number and can be either an adjective or a noun:
- I have two cats. (adjective)
- Please write the word two on the board. (noun)
- I have three cards left, a 7, a 6, and a 2. (noun)
But this blog post is mostly about too and how you punctuate it. Too, coincidentally, has two meanings, both adverbs:
- Too can mean “an overly great amount”: The coffee is too hot to drink.
- Too can also mean also.
When too means “an overly great amount,” you don’t have to worry about any punctuation. However, when too means “also,” you have to worry about commas.
- When too is in the middle of the sentence somewhere — and it means “also” — you need to set if off with commas: I, too, would like to go to the movies with you.
- However — Surprise! When too is at the end of the sentence, there is no comma before it. Many people put a comma before too when it ends the sentence, but no comma is needed. It seems that way back we might have learned to put a comma before too at the end of the sentence, but there is no comma: I want to go too.
If you used also instead of too at the end of the sentence, you probably would not think to put a comma. So, it is the same with using too. No comma.
- I would like to go shopping also. (not that you would ever say it that way!
- I wold like to go shopping too.
So, you can stop putting that comma before the too at the end of the sentence. One less comma to worry about!
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Grammar Diva News:
September 11, I am leading the editing/proofreading section of the Redwood Writers Roundtables. You are invited!
October 8, I will be at the Great Valley Book Fest in Manteca, and it’s free!
I was taught to put a comma before “too” at the end of a sentence. When and why did that change?
I believe I was taught the same thing. I don’t know when, if, or why it changed. Most grammar books don’t discuss it, but my favorite, the Gregg Reference, says to leave it out. It is not necessary and I don’t think we would put in a comma if we used also instead. And there is no pause really.
On the idea that the infinitive “to” is a preposition, it seems to me a case of, “well, it must be one of the eight parts of speech so let’s stick it in this category/” I’ve always felt the same about “yes” and no” being identified as adverbs or as interjections. If I write, “He has a yes attitude when faced with a challenge” isn’t it an adjective? Sure, if I’ve just executed a great passing shot in tennis my “Yes!” is an interjection. But how can we categorize “Are you going to heaven? “Yes.” as any of the PoSs (Interesting that PoS also has another meaning as in “My P-O-S car..”) Well, the same thing happens with “to.” Why not just call it a Particle as we do with “I object to that statement, your honor.” We might call this a prepositional phrase, but the “to” is attached to the word “object” — we cannot object for or by or with, we can only object to. I say, let’s make Particles our ninth part of speech and dump all our trouble makers into it!
Thanks for the great comment! As far as “to” goes, I think I did read it is sometimes called a particle, although I am not even sure what a particle is. I refuse to call it a preposition! It is just part of the infinitive, as in “object to” it is part of the verb: it is a two word verb, not unlike “next to” is a two-word preposition. Since words can be multiple parts of speech, Yes, is most often an interjection, can certainly be an adjective. In an answer to a question, would it perhaps be an interjection, with the rest of the sentence implied? Yes, I am going to heaven. Let’s just call the ninth part of speech POS. Some people already say there are 9, though, calling articles a different part of speech, whereas I call them adjectives.
Can one separate the infinitive form of verb (as in, “to buy”) with adverb?
He must go to the store to finally buy bread; or, He must go to the store to quickly buy bread; or, Finally, he must go to the store, quickly, to buy bread.
Aha! You are talking about splitting an infinitive. It used to be quite taboo, but it is now quite all right. The famous split infinitive is the one from Star Trek …”To boldly go where no man has gone before…” Should be “To go boldly…” but it’s just not the same. So, in answer to your question, you can split the infinitive or not. Some people still don’t, I guess.
This article sent me a somewhat different but I think related direction. I think we should add another word to the language and I have a rant about it’s current situation. I think we could benefit by adding “soo” to the language. It would be pronounced “sew” and would mean very. It is soo important to remember… I think it would be great since it would both enhance and confuse our communication, just like so many other elements of the English language.
The rant revolves around the (fairly recent) misuse of the word “so” to begin sentences when it serves no purpose at all. I’m hearing this everywhere and from everyone. Politicians, educators, and media spokespersons (all people I would hope know better) give it the appearance of being appropriate. It’s making me crazy! Thanks.
Thanks for the comment. I actually use the word soo and even sooooo! I don’t like starting a sentence with so, but it is apparently OK to starty a sentence with a conjunction now….and or but or so. Starting a sentence with so seems like a space holder while the speaker is trying to think of what to say. And note that the millennials also end a sentence with so! Or, specifically, “so, yah.”
Thanks for the clarification about no comma after ‘too’ at the end of a sentence! I’ve been painstakingly inserting that comma for decades. Seems as if I learned that to be proper in junior high school English class in the 1960s. And for so many decades I’ve been looking askance at those who omitted the comma too!
Same here, John. I think we must have learned it in school because I always did it too. (ha! no comma). Most grammar books don’t even talk about it, but when they do, they say to omit the comma.
How interesting! The fact that I am not the only one who has been making this mistake- or should I say :have made” since I hope I will pay more attention to my commas now- does make me feel a bit less uncomfortable.Not being a native speaker I am sure I was taught that in school….
On the other hand, the same situation happens in my mother tongue ( Romanian) with people starting sentences with the word meaning SO although there is no conclusion…it is a trend in the mass media we teachers are fighting against,with no result…
I never think about people starting sentences with So in other languages too! Apparently, it is OK, but not in formal language, as far as I am concerned.
I agree with those who prefer not to have an apostrophe for plural numbers or words unless the word without it is confusing, as would be toos. There, I think, as in plural letters, a’s, b’s, c’s, it’s less confusing to use an apostrophe, making it too’s, though italics would help. I hate 1980’s; should be 1980s or ’80s.
Re infinitives, other languages have the “to” understood as part of the word, e.g., hablar means to speak in Spanish. Thus to me it’s just as if “to speak” in English were one word. That’s why you shouldn’t split the infinitive!
My TWO cents!
Thanks for your two cents! I understand the reason for having the apostrophe in something like toes. I still prefer just putting it in italics, which it should be anyway, and putting the s in regular type, which is should be….I think the apostrophe looks weird and wrong to me because I have seen so many people put apostrophes in plain old plural words on Facebook!!!
I agree with you about the “to” in the infinitive. It is not a preposition as far as I can see; it really is just part of the verb. Yes, I vaguely remember the infinitive in French being one word.
Hi Arlene. This is the second response where you used “as far as.” Somewhere back in the dark ages I was told to use “so far as” in a sentence containing a negative as both of your replies did (probably by the same nun who had me put a comma before too at the end of a sentence). Did she get it wrong? Am I mis or disremembering? Are “as far as” and “so far as” totally interchangeable?
Good question. I always have said as far as, and that is what I have heard everyone else use. I occasionally hear so far as, but it sounds incorrect to me. And when I break it down, so far as doesn’t really make sense. I am going to check on it, but I am pretty sure it must be as far as. It just makes sense meaning-wise. Looked it up. What I could find is that as far as is more American and less formal. People formerly used so far as more. It is more formal and often stated insofar as ….so I gather either is correct.
Beautifully written! Will be using in my ESL classes if you don’t mind. 😊
Thank you so much. I am honored and delighted to have you use it in your classes!
Two to good too. Whew, I’m glad I got that right.
Gordon Burgett
Ok, got it. Now, how do I write the sentence: “There are three ‘tooz’ in the English language, to, too, and two.” Obviously, it is the fourth word in the sentence that causes me heartburn.
Hmmmm…..I think it would be toos, with the too in italics, but not the s. Most people would probably put in an apostrophe, but I think not.
It would be too’s with the apostrophe.
I have looked it up over and over again. It is debatable. Some people use an apostrophe to make lowercase letters plural, especially a, i and u, since they would be confused with as, is and us. Some people use apostrophes in plural numbers; others don’t. Some people use apostrophes in plurals or words used as themselves, like too’s. But you can also use italics on the word and not the s, or you can use bold on the word but not the s, or even all caps on the word but not the s. My personal preference is the italics on the word and not the s.