<em>Too</em> means either 'also' or 'more than is wanted': 'I'm coming too' and 'This coat is too tight.' <em>To</em> points towards something or introduces a verb: 'Walk to the corner' and 'I forgot to call.' The extra O carries the extra meaning.
The core difference
Too is an adverb with two senses, both of which add something: an addition (also, as well) or an excess (more than enough). To is a preposition of direction and the marker that turns a verb into its base form.
Using each one
- Too = also: Sam's bringing the drinks, and dessert too.
- Too = excessively: The soup is too salty. It's too late to change the booking.
- To = direction or recipient: We drove to Bristol. Send the invoice to accounts.
- To = infinitive marker: She agreed to help. I want to understand this properly.
The test
Substitute 'also' or 'excessively'. If either one fits, you want too. 'This is excessively tight' works, so 'too tight' is right. 'Send the invoice also accounts' is nonsense, so that one is to.
A second signal: too is almost always followed by an adjective or adverb ('too cold', 'too quickly'), or sits at the end of a clause ('me too'). To is almost always followed by a noun or a bare verb.
The memory trick
Too has an extra O — it is a word about more. Too much, too many, too long. When your sentence is about something in excess or something added on, give it the extra letter.
Where it goes wrong
The two most common slips both involve too being written as to:
- 'me to' at the end of a message, when it should be 'me too'.
- 'to much', 'to many', 'to late' — all need too, because they describe excess.
The reverse mistake — 'too' where to belongs — is rarer but appears in phrases like 'go too the shop'.
A note on commas
When too means 'also', a comma before it is optional and largely a matter of pacing. 'I'd like one too' and 'I'd like one, too' are both correct; the comma adds a small pause and is more common in American usage. Mid-sentence, commas are usual on both sides: 'Ravi, too, thought it was a mistake.'
And remember the third member of the set: two, the number. If the digit 2 fits, that is the spelling you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it 'me too' or 'me to'?
'Me too.' It means 'me as well', and 'also' substitutes cleanly. 'Me to' would only appear inside a longer phrase like 'give it to me'.
Is it 'too much' or 'to much'?
'Too much' — it describes an excess. The same applies to 'too many', 'too far', 'too soon' and 'too late'.
Do I need a comma before 'too'?
Not necessarily. At the end of a sentence it is optional: 'She's coming too' or 'She's coming, too'. Use one if you want a slight pause, and use a pair when 'too' interrupts mid-sentence.