Friday, March 11, 2011

To, Too, and Two

to /tū/ prep. Toward; intended for; in the direction of.
initiatory. The word used to introduce an infinitive.

Proper use:
Right: "Go to the store."
Right: "To err is human; to forgive is divine."
Wrong: "I wish to discuss these to things."
Wrong: "Aw... That's to bad."
Wrong: "You're to much!"
Wrong: "But I want to do that to!"

too /tū/ adv. 1. Overly; excessively; extremely; unnecessarily greatly.
2. Also.

Proper use:
Right: "Aw... That's too bad."
Right: "You're too much!"
Right: "But I want to do that too!"
Wrong: "Go too the store."
Wrong: "Too err is human; too forgive is divine."
Wrong: "I wish to discuss these too things."

two /tū/ adj., n. A number equal to one plus one; one greater than one; one less than three.

Proper use:
Right: "I wish to discuss these two things."
Wrong: "Aw... That's two bad."
Wrong: "But I want to do that two!"
Wrong: "You're two much!"
Wrong: "Go two the store."
Wrong: "Two err is human; two forgive is divine."

Thursday, March 10, 2011

No and Know

no /nō/ adj. Not any, none of.
particle neg. The negative particle, used as an interjection in answer to a question.

Proper use:
Right: "No, it isn't."
Right: "We have no time for such foolishness."
Wrong: "OK, let me no when you're done."
Wrong: "I no him."


know /nō/ v. 1. To be aware of or familiar with; to perceive.
2. To be acquainted with, as a friend.

Proper use:
Right: "OK, let me know when you're done."
Right: "I know him."
Wrong: "Know, it isn't."
Wrong: "We have know time for such foolishness."


Monday, March 7, 2011

It's and Its

its /ĭts/ pn. poss. A third person neuter possessive pronoun meaning of it or concerning it.

Proper use:
Right: "Never judge a book by its cover."
Wrong: "Its not polite to stare."
Wrong: "Its been a long time!"

it's /ĭts/ contraction. A contraction of it and is or has.

Proper use:
Right: "It's not polite to stare."
Right: "It's been a long time!"
Wrong: "Never judge a book by it's cover."