Two, to, or Too

2009-12-05T20:35:00.002-06:00

I imagine, for the most part, when two (as referrng to the number) is used incorrectly it's because someone accidently spelled this two instead of to or too, as they meant. To and too, however, are used incorrectly often. I'm sure like so many errors, a lot of the time the writer knows how to use them correctly but accidentally wrote the wrong one.

I'm writing these tips for those that cannot remember when they should write to or too. Like, being able to remember that a lot is two words instead of one, I have a couple hints to help when deciding which way the word should be written.

If I like something too much, I like it a lot! Therefore, it needs more than one o. I realize that two letters of any one thing isn't a lot at all, but thinking about it this way helps me to remember to write it as too instead of to.

The other way that we use too, is when we are in agreement with someone. So, if we are agreeing with someone else we aren't alone. Therefore the o doesn't need to be left alone without another o. For example, I want to go to the game too. I can exchange too for also in this sentence and it would still make sense. I want to go to the game also. Since I can replace too with also and the sentence still means the samething, referring that I agree or want to adjoin the other person or others in going to the game, I'm not alone in this agreement. Therefore, there isn't only one o in this too but two (so again I remember more than one because by me wanting to go to the game too, there is more than one person wanting to go to the game).

Capitalization tip: to in the title above isn't capitalized, because prepositions aren't capitalized in titles unless they are the first word of the title.

A Lot Is Often Written Incorrectly

2009-12-03T19:46:00.003-06:00

I used to make this mistake a lot. I thought that the phrase "a lot" was one word; when it is actually two. A way for me to remember this is think about the fact that to write "a lot" is to write a lot of words…like one too many. Although, two words don't even come close to a lot of words, this tip helps me to remember that "a lot" is more than one word.

Glimpses of Grammar

Two, to, or Too

A Lot Is Often Written Incorrectly