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August 01, 2005
English 101, Session 2
Last week it was two [#2] homonym triads: there, their, they're [they are] and your, you're [you are] and yore. As promised, here's [here is] the next round of English for dummies. We'll [we will] discover how to use two, too and to as well as break from the hat trick tradition and explore the then and than dyad.
This is easy stuff folks; live it, love it, and most of all, learn it.
* Two is simply the number. Unless you can replace the word with the numeral 2, do not use two.
* Too indicates addition. Unless you can use the word also instead, or you mean more or excess, do not use too or you will cause too [excess] much confusion. Wow, we get two [number] references to [direction] math in discussions of English. What is this world coming to [state]?
* To, most of the time, indicates some sort of motion or state. Rather than cover to's seemingly infinite uses, let's [let us] just say that if you're [you are] not talking about the number two or the word also, use the word to.
* Then, like yore, is a period of time. Unless the subject exists in or as an element of time, do not use then.
* Than is used in comparisons. Unless you are speaking of differences, do not use than.
Ask yourself, "when is than better than then?" When it is not, did not, or will not happen then, then it is than. I hope that cleared it up for you.
Learning the differences between these words' meanings can save innumerable brain cells from self-destructing upon encountering incorrect usage. The collective intelligence of English-speaking and -learning people appreciate it greatly. Oh, and I'll [I will] feel better too [also].
Posted at August 1, 2005 10:39 AM | Rants and Opinions
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