The difference between to, too and two

For some of us, spelling and grammar come naturally, for others it's a nightmare. And, for a certain number of people they just don't know the difference.

I find it frustrating and groan when I see common errors when to has been used instead of too.

A simple way to remember which is which is to say it out loud

In the sentence 'I am going to the cinema and my friend is coming too', to the knowing it is simple to see and understand that this is correct. But do those who are oblivious see it that way as well? If they do, then why oh why do the use it incorrectly.

I had a friend who was quite intelligent in many ways, read a lot and had a good understanding of English. So when I received an email from him, I couldn't for the life ime understand why he had used these two words incorrectly.

When I asked him why hed had, he was oblivious to it and shurgged it off as a triviality and again I was surprised because his character didn't allow for incorrectness.

I put it down to the fact that he just didn't care that he had got it wrong because if he did, he certainly didn't do anything about it the next time he used those two words.

Want to know when to use what?

To [pronounced tuh]

As in 'I am going to the cinema'

Preposition

1. (used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing approached and reached, as opposed to from): They came to the house.

2. (used for expressing direction or motion or direction toward something) in the direction of; toward: from north to south.

3. (used for expressing limit of movement or extension): He grew to six feet.

4. (used for expressing contact or contiguity) on; against; beside; upon: a right uppercut to the jaw; Apply varnish to the surface.

5. (used for expressing a point of limit in time) before; until:

to this day; It is ten minutes to six. We work from nine to five.

6. (used for expressing aim, purpose, or intention): going to the rescue.

7. (used for expressing destination or appointed end): sentenced to jail.

Adverb

1. toward a point, person, place, or thing, implied or understood.

2. toward a contact point or closed position: Pull the door to.

3. toward a matter, action, or work: We turned to with a will.

4. into a state of consciousness; out of unconsciousness: after he came to.

Too [pronounced tooo]

As in: "My friend is going to the cinema too."

Adverb

1. in addition; also; furthermore; moreover:young, clever, and rich too.

2. to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, orright:

too sick to travel.

3. more, as specified, than should be: too near the fire.

4. (used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement): I am too!

5. extremely; very: She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.

Two [pronounced tooo]

Use two to spell out the number 2. If you can replace two with 2 in the same sentence. When writing, use the word two the first time a number is used in any correspondence, any subsequent numbers can be used in the figure form.

As in: The two of us are going to the cinema, there will be just the 2 of us'

Noun

1. a cardinal number, 1 plus 1.

2. a symbol for this number, as 2 or II.

3. a set of 2 things. a pair

4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with two pips.

Adjective

5. amounting to two in number.

#grammar #spelling #why #mind