Two, Too and To, do you know the difference?

Question

Also, do you know how to use there, they're and their properly?

What do you think is the reason people don't or can't use them correctly?

Is it down to emails and texting?

Do you care?

Should we care?

I must agree that your and you're are another two words that need to be used correctly. Don't get me started on apostrophes. The worst of recent years: Bridget Jones's Diary! OMG!!!!! you don't need the second 's'!

For a book to use it it also says a lot about our publishers these days :(

Answer 1

Your a really smart person!

I blame automatic spell-check for much of the mental sloth in grammar, but it has clearly gotten worse and gone beyond just spelling errors.

I care. It doesn't bother me as much on Yahoo! Answers as it does when I see errors on AP or CNN news stories. If the reporters didn't check their grammar, what else didn't they check?

Fight the good fight, man. Its nice to no their are a few out they're who still care. ;)

Answer 2

Yes, I do know the difference between to, too, and two. Yes, I can use there and they're properly. The reason that no one online uses them correctly is because there are lots of uneducated and lazy people on the Internet (and Yahoo! Answers was born...). I don;t really care, because I'm not a crazy grammar Nazi, but I probably should care, seeing as he generation after me that cannot spell for the world.... those are the same people who are going to be in charge of everything when I'm too old to walk. And I am terrified for the future.

Answer 3

I think it is largely due to the fact that evolution goes in cycles. What we are seeing is a gradual shift towards shorter foreheads and longer arms, accompanied by a much reduced vocabulary.

The attitude of "I don't care how the words are spelled, because I am an individual and if you don't understand what I mean, then that's not my problem." doesn't help at all.

I have only been on this "Answers" site a few days, but already I am surprised at the apparent lack of language knowledge, based on the questions and answers. If this had been the American site, I would have been less surprised. I am actually wondering if the average person here is one generation below me... which would explain things :-)

Answer 4

I am far too tired to answer this question as I only got two hours sleep and I am going to work very early in the morning. I don't much like my job. It's my colleagues really. When I get there I often find they have left me their work to do. They're really quite lazy. I get fed up with correcting all the bad spelling and misuse of words. I wish people would take a little more care with the English language.

Anyway I might come back and answer this question later when I am more alert!

Answer 5

I, too, know how to use two when I am talking about more than one. There are many reasons people use these words incorrectly. They're too busy to check their grammar, perhaps.

All kidding aside, grammar misuse is one of the things I can't stand and I feel students today are not receiving the basics in English. Whether this is the fault of the teachers or disinterst on the student's part, I can't say.

Answer 6

As an elementary school teacher, I think that we should care. Although language is supposed to change in order not to become stagnant, MSN, e-mails, and texting, is not a good change. I continue to write out most of my ideas when messaging my son rather than using the abbreviated English of the text message.
And yes, I do know the difference between those homophones. As I am always telling my students--Spell Check can only do so much so that they had better learn the difference between two (the number), too (as in 'also'), and to (the preposition as in the phrase 'to the store') OR in there (the opposite of here), they're (the contraction of they are), and their (a personal possessive pronominal adjective).

Answer 7

Yes, I do know the difference & also how to use them correctly.

I think that nowadays a lot of people just simply can't be bothered to use the correct spelling or punctuation properly. Lots of people can't speak it properly let alone write it.

Yes I care & I think we should care as it will be the generation who cannot/will not spell or punctuate correctly who will be running this country. If they don't care or are too busy to do this properly now what will they not care about or be too busy to do in the future.

Answer 8

I know the difference and I think that some people genuinely don't know how to use words correctly.

There have always been people who don't use words correctly, but in present times the uneducated have a higher disposable income than ever before and it has been made easy for even the dullest intellect to access the internet, that is why we now notice them. Before the internet became popular we didn't see anything that they had written unless it was graffiti.

... and before anybody points it out, I am aware that I always spell internet with a small 'i'. It may be popular to capitalise it but it is also incorrect.

Answer 9

TWO as in the number 2, which is only used when you have TWO of something or talking about the time, anything involving the Number 2 TWO

To is when you are going TO somewhere, or I'm going TO do something

TOO is when something is TOO much

It confuses me that people are confused about this, but then I don't care aslong as I'm not TOO confused, think I'll go TO bed early otherwise it will be about TWO AM before I do

Answer 10

I won't go into a lengthy explanation proving that I know the difference but I'm right there with you. It drives me mad that people don't take the time to know the different and use them properly. I don't know if it comes down to ignorance or laziness. Some of my best friends who I really think are smart, constantly use them interchangable as if they all mean the same thing. I know that if someone doesn't use the right word, I immediately make a judgment about them. I know that's wrong to do, but I do.

Answer 11

Yes, indeed I do, since I am a educator. "Two" is the digit 2, a number, numerical reference. "Too" is used as an alternative to "also." "To" is a preposition. People don't use them correctly as society has become lazy in the use of proper grammar and English. I use proper grammar in e-mails and text-messaging, so I wouldn't think that should be an excuse. Yes, I care. Yes, we should ALL care. You are perceived by how you appear AND how you speak and conduct yourself. Society is still interested in one's image!