The little words “to” and “too” are easy to confuse. This happens to everyone at some point, but luckily, learning how to choose the correct one every time is not that hard. All you need is to know exactly what each of them means and how it is used, and you’ll never confuse them again.

English learners often confuse homophones, like reign and rain, chili and chilly, and, of course, to and too (and two, but that one is easier to spot since it is a number). That happens not only because they are similar in both written and spoken form but also because the rules of English spelling are inconsistent. Even though there are some general spelling rules, there are too many special cases and not even analogies with the words you know can help. Basically, you can’t guess what the correct spelling is until you really get used to using the word. So, let’s get to know these two little ones: to and too.

Why are “to” and “too” so confusing?

The confusion between “to” and “too” stems from the fact that they are homophones, meaning they sound identical when spoken, even though they serve very different purposes in a sentence. Adding to the confusion, they are both very common words with multiple meanings and uses. For non-native speakers, this overlap can make it difficult to know which word to use and when.

The meaning and use of “to”

In general, “to” doesn’t have a particular meaning on its own, and it is used to make a sentence grammatically correct (like I just did when I wrote “used to make”).

“To” as a part of infinitive

I used “to” as a part of the infinitive “to make.” You’ve probably just recalled your verb drills and noticed that infinitives typically start with “to”: to be, to do, to go, to watch, to listen, to sit, to eat, to play, and so on. Here are ten examples of "to" as part of an infinitive, where it introduces the base form of a verb:

I like to read before bed.

He plans to travel next summer.

She wants to learn a new language.

They hope to finish the project by Friday.

I decided to stay home tonight.

We need to discuss the budget changes.

He offered to help with the move.

She promised to call later.

They tried to fix the issue themselves.

I forgot to bring my notebook.

“To” in phrasal verbs

To is also used in phrasal verbs. Here are some examples:

• Come to grips with:

It took a while, but she finally came to grips with the new software update.

• Get to work on:

We need to get to work on this project as soon as possible.

• Look forward to:

I’m really looking forward to our trip next month.

• Give in to:

He didn’t want to, but he gave in to his friends’ pressure.

• Take to heart:

She took his advice to heart and changed her approach.

• Hold on to:

Please hold on to this form until I can review it.

• Go back to:

After the break, we’ll go back to the original plan.

• Look up to:

He has always looked up to his older brother.

• Run up to:

She ran up to the manager with her complaint.

• Turn to:

When he needs help, he turns to his mentor for guidance.

“To” as a preposition

But the main use of “to” is that of a preposition. “To” can show direction or movement toward a place, person, or thing or indicate a range or relationship between people, places, or things. Let’s see examples.

• They walked to the park – indicating movement toward a location.
• The meeting was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – showing a range of time.
• She handed the book to her friend. – showing movement toward a person.
• The train goes from New York to Boston. – indicating the route between places.
• It was freezing from the top to the bottom of the mountain. – showing range within a location.
• He traveled to Japan last summer. – indicating movement toward a country.
• The recipe calls for adding salt to taste. – showing a relationship to an amount.
• They agreed to the terms of the contract. – indicating movement toward agreement.
• She waved to her family from the stage. – showing direction toward a group of people.
• The arrow pointed to the right. – indicating a direction toward a side.

Memorizing confusing words with LiveXP’s Word Trainer

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The meaning and use of “too”

Unlike “to,” “too” can change the core meaning of a sentence. For example, imagine you and I are discussing our favorite foods. I could say, “I love string bean soup!” and that would simply be information about what I like (because, really, who doesn’t like string beans?). But if I say, “I love string bean soup, too!” someone just joining the conversation would understand two things: I love string bean soup, and so do you. You love it, and I love it, too.

“Too” as “also”

This is how “too” is used most of the time. It can often be replaced by expressions like “so do you,” “so do I,” “additionally,” or, most commonly, “also.” Let’s see some examples.

I would like to go to the concert, too.

She loves hiking, and her sister does, too.

It’s important for me, and it should be important to you, too.

I’m not only tired but hungry, too.

You’re going to the movies? I want to come, too!

We have salad and pasta for dinner, and there’s dessert, too.

He wants to join the team, too.

And here’s an obvious detail you can remember to make sure you spell “too” correctly in similar contexts: if it is at the end of the sentence, it is “too.” “To” is never at the end of a sentence. It can’t be. But keep in mind this, too: “too” is not always at the end of a sentence. Just like in my last sentence, it can be found somewhere in the middle, and it is always mid-sentence in its other use. Let’s see what it is.

“Too” as “excessively”

“Too” can also show that something is more than necessary, exaggerated, excessive, unreasonable, or just extreme. For example, something can be too short, too long, too detailed, or too fast. Or, there can be too much of something, like too much salt or too much sugar... You get the idea!

Here are the examples:

The coffee was too hot to drink right away.

He spoke too quickly for anyone to understand.

This book is too detailed for a beginner.

I’m too tired to go out tonight.

They added too much garlic to the sauce.

The room was too small for all the guests.

These examples highlight “too” to emphasize when something is excessive or beyond a reasonable limit.

How to remember the difference between “to” and “too”

To avoid confusion, remember these quick tips:

• To as a preposition or infinitive: Think of it as pointing toward something (direction, action).
• Too as meaning “excessive” or “also”: It has an extra “o,” which can remind you it’s about adding more of something—whether it’s more heat, speed, or people.

Since both words sound the same when spoken, you won’t necessarily make mistakes while speaking. However, it’s essential to practice reading and writing to ensure you’re using them correctly in text. One-on-one lessons with an English teacher, such as those offered on LiveXP, can be highly effective in mastering the nuances of these and other tricky words. A tutor can provide real-time feedback, personalized examples, and the chance to ask questions as you practice.