too

USAGE SUMMARY

"too" is a correct and usable word in written English.
This word is generally used in the sense of "also" or "in addition." For example, "I enjoy reading books too" (meaning I also enjoy reading books). It can also be used to mean "excessively" or "more than is needed" as in, "I ate too many cookies" (meaning I ate more than I should have).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too little, too late.

The New York Times - Sports

"I try not to think about it too much.

The New York Times

He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous, too, not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq".

The Guardian

"East Coast is particularly sorry, too, for the inconvenience to its customers as a result on what we know is an already very busy travel day immediately following the Christmas break.

The Guardian - Business

Gone too soon.

The New York Times

About time, too.

The Guardian - Business

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

"Too often in the past our rhetoric undermined that positive relationship with business, and with the creation of jobs and wealth for the future.

The Guardian

There is another difference too.

The Guardian

Phoenix, too.

The New York Times - Sports

Not a moment too soon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too" sparingly when indicating excess. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider alternatives like "excessively" or "overly".

Common error

The words "too", "to", and "two" are homophones and often misused. "Too" means "also" or "excessively", "to" is a preposition or part of an infinitive, and "two" is a number. Ensure you're using the correct word in context.

Linguistic Context

The word "too" functions primarily as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Ludwig AI confirms its use in adding information (meaning 'also') or indicating excessiveness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "too" is a versatile word used to indicate addition, agreement, or excess. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions grammatically as an adverb and is highly frequent in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, be mindful of the homophones "to" and "two" to avoid common errors, and consider alternatives like "also" or "excessively" to add nuance. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase the breadth of "too's" application, making it a valuable tool for expressing various meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

also

Indicates addition, similar to "too", but might be perceived as slightly more formal in some contexts.

as well

Functions identically to "too" in adding information or indicating inclusion.

in addition

A more explicit way to express addition compared to the concise "too".

likewise

Indicates agreement or that the same applies to another person or thing.

besides

Similar to "also" or "in addition", suggesting an additional point or element.

excessively

Indicates that something is done to an extreme degree, mirroring one of "too's" usages.

furthermore

A more formal way to introduce an additional point, suitable for academic or professional writing.

overly

Similar to "excessively", suggesting that something is beyond what is necessary or desirable.

to a fault

Expresses that a characteristic is so strong it becomes a negative trait.

extremely

Intensifies an adjective or adverb, similar to using "too" to mean "very".

FAQs

How to use "too" in a sentence?

"Too" can be used to mean "also", as in "I want to go "too"", or to indicate excess, as in "That's "too" much".

What can I say instead of "too"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "also", "as well", "in addition", or "excessively".

Which is correct, "me too" or "me as well"?

"Me "too"" and "me as well" are both correct, although "me "too"" is more common in informal conversation.

What's the difference between "too" and "very"?

"Very" intensifies an adjective or adverb, while ""too"" indicates excess or that something is beyond a desirable limit. For example, "very good" means something is of high quality, while ""too" good" suggests it's implausible or excessive.