The Grammar Guide Spelling What is the difference between "to" and "two"?

What is the difference between "to" and "two"?

What is the difference between "to" and "two"?

The words to and two are often confused because they have the same pronunciation but different meanings. Do you know the difference?

To means toward when used as an adverb. As a preposition, it is used to convey motion or direction between two nouns or phrases.

Two means the number after one and is used as a noun or adjective.

A good way to remember the difference is that the number two has more than two letters.

Out of the two words, to is the most common.

 



Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and often spellings. Some of the most common homophones in English are to and two.

To is a preposition. It can connect nouns or phrases. It is used to express motion, direction, and passage of time. It can also be used to express contact between nouns.

Two is a number. It comes after the number one and before the number three.

Here are some examples on the difference between to and two.

Should I use 'from time to time' or 'from time two time'?

The correct expression is 'from time to time'. To is a preposition.

Should I use 'in order to' or ', in order two'?

The right expression is 'in order to'. This is because to before a verb makes an infinitive.

What's the correct phrase, 'to be able to' or 'two be able two'?

The right phrase is 'to be able to'. These phrases are often confused because they have the same pronunciation but different meanings.

What's the correct phrase, 'do not want to' or 'do not want two'?

The right expression is 'do not want to'. This is because to before a verb makes an infinitive.

Should I use 'lesser of two evils' or 'lesser of to evils'?

The right phrase is 'lesser of two evils'. This phrase compares the amount of evils, so it needs a number.

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The definitions in this article were adapted from Wiktionary and Dictionary.com.

Examples of to in a sentence

One might say that matter, through electricity, tries to achieve ecstasy.—ERNEST
- Grand Junction by Maurice G. Dantec
Henry was invited to book launches and literary festivals around the world;
- Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
He pounded on the earth, trying to keep the hands from pulling him under.It wasn't working.
- Beyond belief by Roy Johansen
I wanted to write, and just tell you that me and my spirit were fighting this morning.
- In the night room: a novel by Peter Straub
SIGNET and the “ S design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.
- Nothing gold can stay by Dana Stabenow

Examples of two in a sentence

TWO
- The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
She made one or two rather cutting remarks about him.
- Weighed in the balance by Anne Perry
They left, taking the stairs two at a time.
- The wandering fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
TWO
- Nothing gold can stay by Dana Stabenow
It was worth a stare or two.
- Touch of Darkness by C. T. Adams; Cathy Clamp