To vs. Too: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"To" is used for expressing direction, place, or purpose, while "Too" means also or excessively.
Key Differences
"To" is a preposition, often indicating direction or destination, such as in "going to the store." "Too", an adverb, implies an excess or additionally, as in "too much noise."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
When expressing purpose, "to" is part of the infinitive form of a verb, like "to eat." Conversely, "too" is used to add emphasis, as in "I want that too."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
"To" is also used in expressing relations, as in "relative to." "Too" can mean more than is desirable, as in "too expensive."
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Nov 16, 2023
In time expressions, "to" suggests a point in time, like "ten to six." "Too" indicates a greater degree than desirable, such as "arriving too late."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
"To" can show the recipient of an action, like "give it to me." "Too" also means in addition, like "He's coming too."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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To and Too Definitions
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To
Used to indicate appropriation or possession
Looked for the top to the jar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Too
To a high degree, very.
She doesn't talk too much.
I'm not too sure about this.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Too
Used to contradict a negative assertion.
"You're not old enough yet." ― "I am, too!"
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Oct 19, 2023
Too
Over; more than enough; - noting excess; as, a thing is too long, too short, or too wide; too high; too many; too much.
His will, too strong to bend, too proud to learn.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Too
Likewise; also; in addition.
An honest courtier, yet a patriot too.
Let those eyes that viewThe daring crime, behold the vengeance too.
O that this too too solid flesh would melt.
Such is not Charles his too too active age.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Used to indicate the relationship of a verb with its complement
Refer to a dictionary.
Refer me to a dictionary.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
Used with a reflexive pronoun to indicate exclusivity or separateness
Had the plane to ourselves.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
In one direction; toward a person or thing
Owls with feathers wrong end to.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
Indicating destination: In the direction of, so as to arrive at.
We are walking to the shop.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Used to indicate the target or recipient of an action.
I gave the book to him.
I spoke to him earlier.
He devoted himself to education.
They drank to his health.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Used to indicate a resulting feeling or emotion.
To everyone's great relief, the tuneless carol singers finally ceased their warbling.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Used after an adjective to indicate its application.
Similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
Denotes the end of a range.
It takes 2 to 4 weeks to process typical applications.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
As a.
With God to friend (with God as a friend);
With The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe);
Lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice);
Took her to wife (took her as a wife);
Was sold to slave (was sold as a slave).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Used to indicate a ratio or comparison; compared to, as against.
One to one = 1:1
Ten to one = 10:1.
I have ten dollars to your four.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
(arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation.
Three squared or three to the second power is nine.
Three to the power of two is nine.
Three to the second is nine.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
(time) Preceding the next hour.
What's the time? – It's quarter to four in the afternoon (or 3:45 pm).
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Oct 19, 2023
To
(informal) Often used without the hour
It’s quarter to (3:45, or 4:45, or whatever time ending in 45 would make the most sense)
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Oct 19, 2023
To
Used to describe what something consists of or contains.
Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it.
There's a lot of sense to what he says.
The name has a nice ring to it.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
(regionalism) Toward a closed, touching or engaging position.
Please push the door to.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival; movement toward; - opposed to from.
Stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
So to the sylvan lodgeThey came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled.
I'll to him again, . . . He'll tell me all his purpose.She stretched her arms to heaven.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Hence, it indicates motion, course, or tendency toward a time, a state or condition, an aim, or anything capable of being regarded as a limit to a tendency, movement, or action; as, he is going to a trade; he is rising to wealth and honor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
In a very general way, and with innumerable varieties of application, to connects transitive verbs with their remoter or indirect object, and adjectives, nouns, and neuter or passive verbs with a following noun which limits their action. Its sphere verges upon that of for, but it contains less the idea of design or appropriation; as, these remarks were addressed to a large audience; let us keep this seat to ourselves; a substance sweet to the taste; an event painful to the mind; duty to God and to our parents; a dislike to spirituous liquor.
Marks and points out each man of us to slaughter.
Whilst they, distilledAlmost to jelly with the act of fear,Stand dumb and speak not to him.
Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
I have a king's oath to the contrary.
Numbers were crowded to death.
Fate and the dooming gods are deaf to tears.
Go, buckle to the law.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
As sign of the infinitive, to had originally the use of last defined, governing the infinitive as a verbal noun, and connecting it as indirect object with a preceding verb or adjective; thus, ready to go, i.e., ready unto going; good to eat, i.e., good for eating; I do my utmost to lead my life pleasantly. But it has come to be the almost constant prefix to the infinitive, even in situations where it has no prepositional meaning, as where the infinitive is direct object or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see? (Matt. xi. 8).
Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages,And palmers for to seeken strange stranders.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
In many phrases, and in connection with many other words, to has a pregnant meaning, or is used elliptically.
We ready are to try our fortunesTo the last man.
Few of the Esquimaux can count to ten.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Effect; end; consequence; as, the prince was flattered to his ruin; he engaged in a war to his cost; violent factions exist to the prejudice of the state.
Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Accord; adaptation; as, an occupation to his taste; she has a husband to her mind.
He to God's image, she to his was made.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Comparison; as, three is to nine as nine is to twenty-seven; it is ten to one that you will offend him.
All that they did was piety to this.
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Oct 19, 2023
To
Addition; union; accumulation.
Wisdom he has, and to his wisdom, courage.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Accompaniment; as, she sang to his guitar; they danced to the music of a piano.
Anon they moveIn perfect phalanx to the Dorian moodOf flutes and soft recorders.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
To
Character; condition of being; purpose subserved or office filled.
Made his masters and others . . . to consider him to a little wonder.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow;Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.
There was great showing both to and fro.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How does 'to' indicate an infinitive?
It precedes the base form of a verb, like "to run."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
What is 'to' used for?
It's a preposition indicating direction, purpose, or the infinitive form of verbs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
Does 'too' always mean a negative excess?
Often, but it can also just mean additionally.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
Can 'too' be used in formal writing?
Yes, but with careful consideration of context.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
Can 'to' show direction in a figurative sense?
Yes, like "to a better future."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
How does 'to' work in formal writing?
It's used in the same way as in everyday language.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 16, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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