Common Mistake in Negated Sentences: Using "Too" Instead of "Either"

Negated sentences can sometimes be tricky to construct correctly. One common mistake that people make is using the word "too" instead of "either."

The Difference Between "Too" and "Either"

"Too" and "either" are both words that indicate inclusiveness or agreement. However, they are used in different contexts and have different meanings.

• Too: "Too" is used in positive and affirmative sentences to indicate agreement or similarity. It is used to emphasize that something is also true in the same way or to the same extent.
• Either: "Either" is used in negated sentences to indicate inclusion or agreement. It is used to say that one thing is also not true or applicable in the same way.

Examples of Incorrect Usage

Here are some examples of how "too" is commonly misused in negated sentences:

• "I don't like chocolate too." (Incorrect)
• "I can't swim too." (Incorrect)

In these examples, "too" is being used to express agreement or similarity, but in negated sentences, we should use "either" instead.

Correcting the Mistake

To correct the mistake, we need to replace "too" with "either" in the examples:

• "I don't like chocolate either." (Correct)
• "I can't swim either." (Correct)

By using "either" instead of "too," we convey the intended meaning in negated sentences.

If you want to avoid common grammar mistakes like this, you can use a grammar checker like Linguix, which offers helpful suggestions to improve your writing.