Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:
TO / TOO
I was recently surprised to see the word to used to mean too (as in also). While I realize that this could easily have been a typo (or even a “brain glitch”), when it occurred several times in the same article, I assumed the writer mistakenly intended it to be spelled as it was.
The word too is always an adverb and only has a few meanings: also; to an excessive degree; very; and so, the last being a major component of many a child’s defense (“I did, too!“)
The word to, on the other hand, is usually a preposition although it, too (did you catch that? I know you did), can also be used as an adverb. The preposition has many meanings that are quite common, serving as a function word to indicate movement (as in toward: he headed to the store); contact (he pressed his heels to the floor); or relation in time (ten minutes to three o’clock), among others. It can also serve as a function word (as used here) to indicate that the verb following it is an infinitive.
As an adverb, to can indicate direction toward (frantically running to and fro); into contact (the window slammed to); or into awareness (she slapped the child lightly to bring him to), among others.
Whew! That little word to can carry a lot of weight in the English language! However, standing in for also is not part of that weight.
INCORRECT: I want to go, to.
CORRECT: I want to go, too.
© 2018 Ann Henry, all rights reserved.