What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overly
Example
She was overly excited about the news. [overly: adverb]
Example
He was overly critical of her work. [overly: adverb]
too
Example
The soup is too hot to eat. [too: adverb]
Example
She was too tired to go out. [too: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Too is more commonly used than overly in everyday language. Too is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overly is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between overly and too?
Overly is more formal than too, and is often used in written or academic contexts. Too is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
