To, Too and Two
To points somewhere, too means also or more than enough, and two is the number 2.
Usually taught in 2nd grade · these words sound exactly the same
Practice these words
SpellCrush practice reads each word aloud, uses it in a spoken example sentence, and then asks your child to spell it — with instant feedback and a hint if they get stuck.
Two honest caveats. Practice is word-by-word: there is no mode yet that shows a sentence with a gap and asks which spelling fits, which is the format homophones really want. And the no-signup session runs a fixed set of sample words rather than the words on this page. Read the sentences below together first, then practice the spellings.
To, Too and Two at a glance
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | toward something, or the word in front of a verb as in to run | We walked to the park. |
| too | also, or more than you want | This soup is too hot to eat. |
| two | the number 2 | I have two library books. |
The memory trick
Too has one more o than it needs, and that spare letter is the meaning: too is the one about extra. Two keeps the w it inherited from twin, twice and twelve, which are all about pairs.
Sentences that only work with one of them
Homophones are meaningless on their own, so learn them in sentences. Read each line aloud with your child, then cover the word and ask which spelling belongs there.
- We walked to the park.
- She wants to learn the guitar.
- This soup is too hot to eat.
- My sister is coming to the game too.
- I have two library books.
- The recipe needs two eggs.
Fill in the blank
Same sentences, word removed. Answers are underneath each one, so cover the page with a hand or a sheet of paper.
We walked ______ the park.
Answer: to
She wants ______ learn the guitar.
Answer: to
This soup is ______ hot to eat.
Answer: too
My sister is coming to the game ______.
Answer: too
I have ______ library books.
Answer: two
The recipe needs ______ eggs.
Answer: two
Where this fits in the year
To, Too and Two normally comes up in 2nd grade spelling. That page has the full word list for the year, with audio, so you can see what else is expected at the same stage.
Related pages
There, Their or They're
There is a place, their means belonging to them, they're is short for they are. Three memory tricks that name the mechanism, plus example sentences.
Your or You're
Your means belonging to you; you're is short for you are. Say the sentence with you are put back in - if it still works, you need the apostrophe.
Commonly Misspelled Words
The 100 words people get wrong most, each with the misspelling they actually type and the one letter that trips them - from friend to accommodate.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between to, too and two?
To points somewhere, too means also or more than enough, and two is the number 2. In short: to = toward something, or the word in front of a verb as in to run; too = also, or more than you want; two = the number 2.
How do I remember which one to use?
Too has one more o than it needs, and that spare letter is the meaning: too is the one about extra. Two keeps the w it inherited from twin, twice and twelve, which are all about pairs.
When do children learn to, too and two?
to, too and two usually come up around 2nd grade, though they keep causing errors well into adulthood. Because the words sound identical, no amount of reading them aloud will separate them — the meaning has to be attached to the spelling.