Related Pages
"Too" Meaning "In Excess" or "Overly"
The Quick Answer
"Too" is used in expressions like "too chubby" and "too expensive" to give the idea of "in excess" or "more than it should be."
"Too" Meaning "In Excess" or "Overly
There is sometimes confusion over the words "too" and "to." The word "too" has two uses. The one covered on this page is the use of "too" meaning "in excess," "overly," or "more than it should be."All the uses of "too" and "to" are shown in the lesson the difference between "to" and "too."
Examples of "Too" Meaning "In Excess" or "Overly"
Here are some examples of "too" meaning "in excess" or "overly":- My dog eats too much and is too chubby.
- Karen cannot reach Boston in an hour. It is too far.
- I tried to catch you, but I was too slow.
- A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
(Playwright Oscar Wilde)
(This means that a man cannot be overly careful in the choice of his enemies.)
- You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.
(Cartoonist James Thurber)
(This means that you can fool more people than you should be able to and more times than you should be able to.)
- If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee — that will do them in.
Is There a Comma before "Too"?
When "too" means "as well" or "also," it can be offset with comma(s) for emphasis. When "too" means "in excess" or "overly" (as shown in the examples above), there is never a comma. For example:- John passed the exam, too.
- My horse is, too, temperamental.
Summary of "To" and "Too"
This infographic summarizes the different uses of "to" and "too:
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?