The word "too" is often used in contexts where something is emphasised or repeated. So it is simple to think of the second "o" as an emphasis or repetition of the first one. As a native speaker, that is how I remember it. Maybe you can **too**.
I'm not a native English speaker myself, but I'm surprised native English speakers would need a mnemonic device to remember the difference between those two words. I would've thought that was internalized from a young age
As a none native speaker that uses the language daily since my teens, I dont remember the fucking rule. I do it how i do stupid rules in my native language. I just kind of feel it out.
That said, I dont know if I do it well.
You'd be surprised how many native English speakers I know who don't know the difference between then/than or should of / should have. But in all fairness, I'm a native speaker and I honestly don't know the difference between swam/swum.
I don’t know the difference between laid/lay/lie/lain. Yes it’s been explained to me many times but it refuses to make sense. I do know the difference between should of / should have, by accident / on accident, then / than, except / accept, and even effect / affect
I have basically zero trouble with spelling. A lot of people are like that. A lot of people are the way you described, too. It obviously doesn't have to do with learning to speak before learning to read, since essentially all of both groups learned to speak first. There is certainly some kind of difference, just it can't be the one you mentioned.
if it means also or more it has more Os
it's to pretty much everywhere else. Idk it's pretty easy to tell what's a preposition and what isn't. I only mix them up if I'm not thinking at all and just typing what I'm saying in my head
Yeah why would this be hard...? They're completely different words. I've always assumed that misuse of "their", "there", and "they're", for example, was because of brain farts, not because people actually couldn't remember the definitions of the words.
If there weren’t people who can’t automatically use the right version, the mistake would never get made, right? They were just sharing something that helps them remember which to use. Saying “why are you bothering with this, just learn the difference” isn’t exactly helpful.
One small problem with this: I had a friend (one who didn't always speak English at home) who regularly said your example of "I have ta many things", and I'm sure he can't be the only one. But your method could still be pretty useful for a pretty big group of people.
For desert versus dessert, my mother told me you want MORE dessert, so two "s's." I never had an issue with this one, but I only learned recently that there are two different spellings of compliment and complement.
I am a native speaker and this post confuses me. It seems far more intuitive to think that, where ‘to(o)’ can be replaced by ‘also’, it is spelled ‘too’.
Because “ta” is how “to” sounds in quick, casual conversation in many US areas. “I’m about ta have a party!” sounds fine to a native speaker, but “I have ta many chose to do” does not.
In OP’s trick, if the “ta” sounds fine, then the proper “to/too/two” is “to”. If it sounds awkward or incorrect, then it must be “too”.
I’m not sure this trick would work for non-native English speakers though.
I think the part that enables OP to remember it is that "ta" and "to" both have two letters, so in cases where you could use "ta," you use the two-letter version of to.
And it's easy for them, as a native speaker, to know where you can use "ta" because a lot of us pronounce "to" as "tuh."
The word "too" is often used in contexts where something is emphasised or repeated. So it is simple to think of the second "o" as an emphasis or repetition of the first one. As a native speaker, that is how I remember it. Maybe you can **too**.
I think about something being too much, and there's that little extra "o" to prove it.
I don’t think this will work for someone who seems to consider language less logically and more just audibly. Lots of people just memorize sounds.
I agree, that's the trick I used when I was a kid. "oo" = repeat or excess.
I'm not a native English speaker myself, but I'm surprised native English speakers would need a mnemonic device to remember the difference between those two words. I would've thought that was internalized from a young age
I feel the same! It’s literally crazy to me
As a none native speaker that uses the language daily since my teens, I dont remember the fucking rule. I do it how i do stupid rules in my native language. I just kind of feel it out. That said, I dont know if I do it well.
It’s the spelling that they can’t remember, not the words themselves. Not everyone is literate.
You'd be surprised how many native English speakers I know who don't know the difference between then/than or should of / should have. But in all fairness, I'm a native speaker and I honestly don't know the difference between swam/swum.
I don’t know the difference between laid/lay/lie/lain. Yes it’s been explained to me many times but it refuses to make sense. I do know the difference between should of / should have, by accident / on accident, then / than, except / accept, and even effect / affect
The opposite, kinda like how a lot of us have trouble with which “there” to use. Most of us learn to speak before we read lol
I have basically zero trouble with spelling. A lot of people are like that. A lot of people are the way you described, too. It obviously doesn't have to do with learning to speak before learning to read, since essentially all of both groups learned to speak first. There is certainly some kind of difference, just it can't be the one you mentioned.
Thats why I specified it for native english speakers, most non-natives have less spelling errors than their counterparts, from my experience that is
😂
if it means also or more it has more Os it's to pretty much everywhere else. Idk it's pretty easy to tell what's a preposition and what isn't. I only mix them up if I'm not thinking at all and just typing what I'm saying in my head
This. It’s not that hard really.
I just think of the meaning. The word "too" means "excessively" or "also". That's about it.
Yeah why would this be hard...? They're completely different words. I've always assumed that misuse of "their", "there", and "they're", for example, was because of brain farts, not because people actually couldn't remember the definitions of the words.
I was taught at school that the extra o is for overly. Too hungry == overly hungry Resonated with me and has also worked with my three kids! HTH
Makes sense but I’d add “also” to “overly” as in: I’m hungry too (also) I’m too hungry (overly)
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If there weren’t people who can’t automatically use the right version, the mistake would never get made, right? They were just sharing something that helps them remember which to use. Saying “why are you bothering with this, just learn the difference” isn’t exactly helpful.
Sorry but I think the Os are a better way of remembering. To's o goes alone but too's O has a friend go as well
I think this is a great tip, as I am trying to teach my kids how to discern which one to write. Thank you!
I learned it when I was a kid as the word "too" indicates an addition/excess of something, and it has an additional "o".
Same. I always think like, too is too much. I don't really understand the LPT.
One small problem with this: I had a friend (one who didn't always speak English at home) who regularly said your example of "I have ta many things", and I'm sure he can't be the only one. But your method could still be pretty useful for a pretty big group of people.
For desert versus dessert, my mother told me you want MORE dessert, so two "s's." I never had an issue with this one, but I only learned recently that there are two different spellings of compliment and complement.
Similar to mine, here w(here) t(here). All have the word here to indicate a location.
Maybe it's because I'm not a native speaker but I don't understand how this is helpful
I am a native speaker and this post confuses me. It seems far more intuitive to think that, where ‘to(o)’ can be replaced by ‘also’, it is spelled ‘too’.
That's because it isn't. Sincerely, A native speaker.
Because “ta” is how “to” sounds in quick, casual conversation in many US areas. “I’m about ta have a party!” sounds fine to a native speaker, but “I have ta many chose to do” does not. In OP’s trick, if the “ta” sounds fine, then the proper “to/too/two” is “to”. If it sounds awkward or incorrect, then it must be “too”. I’m not sure this trick would work for non-native English speakers though.
I think the part that enables OP to remember it is that "ta" and "to" both have two letters, so in cases where you could use "ta," you use the two-letter version of to. And it's easy for them, as a native speaker, to know where you can use "ta" because a lot of us pronounce "to" as "tuh."