Into vs. In To
How does one know when to use into or in to?
One of the main uses of the preposition into is to indicate movement toward the inside of a place.
Examples
The children jumped into the lake for a swim.
Mom drove the car into the garage.
In to is the adverb in followed by the preposition to.
Examples:
He turned his paper in to the teacher.
The administrators wouldn’t give in to the demands of the protesters.
We will explore into vs. in to in more depth in a future blog.
Pop Quiz
- As a child, I was too afraid to go into/in to the Halloween haunted house.
- I’m going to turn the wallet I found into/in to the police.
- If your battery is running low, you’ll need to plug your power cord into/in to the socket.
Answers
- into
- in to
- into
Posted on Saturday, July 18th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
212 Responses to “Into vs. In To”
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Thanks for these daily tips. They are very helpful.
I would love to see a tip on use/used ….I use/used to be a student at Indiana State University.
Thanks again,
Tom Miller
The correct word in this situation will always be “used to.”
Dive into fun or dive in to fun?
Dive into fun.
blends in to or blends into?
Great question! You would say, “After years of fame, she hopes now to blend in with the crowd.” However, this next example comes from The Chicago Manual of Style in its discussion of copyright laws: In the case of online publishing, reproduction and distribution blend into the act of transmitting the work on demand to the reader’s computer. So it seems that blend in with and blend into are the common expressions.
Log into/in to a computer?
Figured it out.
Log into a computer. If there is a verb associated with the to then you use in to. For example:
He went in to run an errand vs. he went into the store to run an errand
You have a good idea but it doesn’t really apply here. The real question to ask is, “Is there actual entrance?” If so, use “into.” What makes your question so intriguing is that it is debatable whether there is entrance when logging in. I would say “no.” Also, the expression is “log in,” not “log into”; therefore, use “log in to.”
I’m into or in to sports? (As in, I enjoy sports)
“I’m into sports” is the expression.
get back into or in to the workforce
I think you could argue for either form in this case. “Into” implies entrance, which one could say is meant figuratively here, even if not literally.
Climb into bed???
yes
The caterpillar turned into/in to a butterfly? Thanks!
The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
Great differentiations. How about…”Enter the final number into the last column of the spreadsheet.” Although a column is bounded on two sides, I would propose that it is better to use “in” in this case. However, because a cell (or field) of a spreadsheet is more specifically bounded on four sides, the use of “into” would be more appropriate if the sentence read, “Enter the final number into cell C-4 of the spreadsheet.” What is your opinion, Jane?
I agree that “Enter the final number into cell C-4 of the spreadsheet” is better because 1. the cell is bounded on four sides, as you say and 2. it answers the question “where?” However, I would also use “into” in your first example, “Enter the final number into the last column of the spreadsheet” because it is still answering where the number should be placed. In addition, it is more common to hear of entering numbers into things. Example: I entered my birth date into the box provided.
You grant us the right to insert the logo in to your ad.
or
You grant us the right to insert the logo into your ad.
“You grant us the right to insert the logo into your ad.” However, because you have already said “insert,” “into” is a bit redundant. You may want to write, “You grant us the right to insert the logo in your ad.”
I will look in to/into the options you have suggested.
“I will look into the options you have suggested.”
Do your kids define cleaning their room as shoving everything into/in the closet?
“Into” suggests actual entrance; therefore, “shoving everything into the closet.”
Turn this into/in to a family event?
I would use “into” because you mean “become.” If you say “turn this in to,” it means there is a thing being turned in.
Tune into channel 4 or Tune in to channel 4?
tune in to Channel 4
“Tune in” is an expression when used with television shows.
This fall I will be going in to my second year of high school or into my second year of high school. If I opt not to rewrite the sentence, which of the two would be appropriate?
I would say that either “in to” or “into” is correct.
Your name will be entered in/into a raffle for a fun prize. I’m thinking “into”, am I right?
“Into” is fine here.
It was good to run in to/into you yesterday?
Either “run in to” or “run into” would be correct; however, I would use “run in to” since you don’t literally mean “collide.”
He was always one to lean into/in to a fight (as in, he has an aggressive personality)
I think the expression is “lean into” rather than “lean in to.”
Leap into/in to Science?
Leap into science.
Get into or in to college?
into college
an artistic glance into/in to the chilling pits…
I can’t tell which to use. Can you help?
“an artistic glance into the chilling pits…”
it is transformed into/ in to a situation mirroring the…
This is tricky. Either “in to” or “into” could be used.
The result is that venture firms are putting much less money in/into technology startups than in the past?
“…venture firms are putting much less money into technology…”
The agreement goes into/in to effect on October 1st and will remain in effect for one year.
“Into” works just fine here.
Controversy has followed Britney Spears since she shimmied her way into/in to pop culture as a provocative schoolgirl over a decade ago.
“into pop culture”
…will be incorporated in/in to/into the proposal
Use either “in” or “into” for “…will be incorporated in/into the proposal.”
Teachers fall in to/in to one of three groups.
“Teachers fall into one of three groups.”
When is it preferable to use in to? From all that I’ve read here, it seems as though into is always correct. Is that true?
No, sometimes “in to” is the only correct answer.
Examples:
He turned his paper in to the teacher.
The administrators wouldn’t give in to the demands of the protesters.
Thanks so much for clarifying this for me.
You are welcome.
My favorite is when crooks turn themselves into police.
Good one.
Since a criminal doesn’t become a police officer, “in to” is the correct answer.
If I edit to what-I’d-consider-over-hyphenation, it would look like this:
Sometimes I long for the-return-of-hyphenation.
I fantasize
“Crooks turn-themselves-in to police.”
as being correct.
Over-hyphenation, maybe, but I appreciate the-singularitization-which-can-be-brought-about-by-the-use-of-hyphens.
Lynn Truss’s chapter-title “A Little Used Punctuation Mark” is self-illuminating.
I will not be holding-my-breath!
This is overkill.
Yes. Actually, that is kindly-put. Thank you.
You’re welcome; however, kindly put should not be hyphenated here because it does not act as a single expression in front of a noun.
For example: a kindly-put response
Wow. Of course, you are right! Thanks!
When did you take it into/ in to work?
When did you take it in to work?
“We have settled in to our new house” or “We have settled into our new house”
We have settled into our new house.
Additional expense would only come in to/into play of there were more co-defendants.
“into play”
plug into the power of prayer?
Yes, “plug into the power of prayer” is similar to Pop Quiz question #3, “If your battery is running low, you’ll need to plug your power cord into the socket.”
Governor Brownback settles into/in to Topeka?
Governor Brownback settles into Topeka.
What about putting something into/in to words?
Like, “Yeah I have this great idea but I don’t know how to put it into/in to words?” or something
“Putting something into words” would be the correct usage.
“The document was simplified to fit into 2 pages.” or could I simply say “The document was simplified to fit 2 pages.”
The document was simpified to fit into two pages.
Hi Jane, what about: disappearing into the dark recess vs. disappearing in to the dark recess? Or should it be: disappearing within the dark recess? Perhaps you could advise me. Thanks!
“Disappearing into the dark recess” would be the best usage.
She carefully smoothed and tamed the unruly hair into the usual neat and tidy bun.
In your sentence, the word “into” indicates figurative movement from the outside (unruly hair) to the inside (neat and tidy bun).
What ingredients go in to/into the cake?
I could rewrite it “what ingredients go in the cake” so shouldn’t it be “in to”?
Can you expound upon your basic rule of locations being “into”. Do we also use “into” if the action is a combining, blending or becoming of something else like your example from July 2010 regarding the caterpillar turning into a butterfly?
Using the police and crooks example from November 2010…
“crooks turn themselves into police” would be correct if they were coming from different directions and physically turned and bumped into one another or if the criminal became a law enforcement officer. I understand that. “The caterpillar turned into a butterfly”? The caterpillar is crawling along and bumps into a butterfly? The caterpillar becomes a butterfly makes sense but it’s not a location so if you could just clarify.
Thanks.
What ingredients go into the cake?
Locations with “into” suggest movement from the outside to the inside, such as the car moving into the garage.
“Into” can take on various meanings. In the butterfly example, it shows a change of state.
Hi Jane. What about Break in to / Break into? Technically a person is gaining entrance when they break in. But at the same time the verb is “to break in” not “to break” right? Thanks for your help.
“Break into” would be correct. In this case, the verb “break,” when used in this way, does mean enter, rather than smash or separate into pieces.
We’re five weeks into/in to the new year.
Thanks!
We’re five weeks into the new year.
tricked him in to signing the paper or tricked him into signing the paper?
tricked him into signing the paper
He’s just not that into you?
He’s just not that into you. OR
He’s Just Not That Into You (for the book or movie title)
Worth looking into/in to?
The correct usage would be “worth looking into.”
To me, it seems like if you can say your sentence without the object – it works with just “in”. But, if it doesn’t sound right or make sense without the object – it should be “into”.
When did you take it in…to work — YES
Teachers fall in…to one of three groups. — NO
My favorite is when crooks turn themselves in…to police. — YES
Do your kids define cleaning their room as shoving everything in…to the closet? — NO
I’m sure someone might find fault in my logic or there might be an instance in which this doesn’t apply, but it seems to help me (again, in most instances).
That is great if you are able to make the distinction that way. Your method may not work for everyone, however. What “sounds right” to one person might not “sound right” to another. It would be wonderful if there was a universal shortcut that worked for everyone!
Plug in to/into the cloud? This is the headline to a tech magazine I got in the mail. I think “in to” but my friend says “into.”
Plug Into the Cloud
“I’m too tired to recount the unpleasantries one-by-one” or “one by one”? Thank you so much.
I’m too tired to recount the unpleasantries one by one.
I was hoping not to get into/in to this (situation)?
I was hoping not to get into this situation.
In biological classfication we say genera are grouped in to families and families are grouped in to orders. Or should it be into?
You would say that genera are grouped into families and families are grouped into orders.
that’s something I’d be in to/into?
That’s something I’d be into.
Walking into a wall I blackout, waking in to a word of wonder.
Walking into a wall I black out, waking into a world of wonder.
I require the information to download onto my computer
Your sentence is correct.
Regarding “I’m really into/in to sports,” I think we could extrapolate this example to any situation where into/in to is used to convey interest in something. If “into” is the preferred form, it becomes ambiguous when we’re talking about interest in something that you can also literally also go into.
Example: I’m really into cars.
Even worse: He’s been into Sarah lately.
Seems like “in to” might be a better choice?
I can understand why there is so much confusion. The word “into” has several different meanings. Not all indicate actual entry. One of the meanings of the word is “involved with or interested in.” That is the case with the examples you gave.
What about the use of in vs. into in the following sentence?
I would like to incorporate a flower (in or into) the oil painting.
Thanks,
Libby
I would like to incorporate a flower into the oil painting.
These are GREAT examples of when to use “into” and “in to” . Thank you very much for your input.
I am glad that you find the information helpful.
Jane,
Check in to a hotel or check into a hotel? Since “check in” is an expression like
“Tune in” (from above), I lean towards “check in to…” but “check into…” makes sense, too.
“Check into a hotel” would be correct.
Are these correct?
I have noted the true thought, attention and care that they put into each patient encounter.
Putting all that I am into everything I do…
Thanks
Yes, they are correct.
I got into Las Vegas late last night/ I got in to Las Vegas late last night
I got into Las Vegas late last night.
The patient came into the office today for a consultation or The patient came in to the office today for a consultation.
The patient came into the office today for a consultation.
I will not get into/in to a vehicle with strangers. ??
Thanks
I will not get into a vehicle with strangers.
She leaned in to him/She leaned into him?
She leaned into him.
“Yes you are,” Aaron replied, separating the pieces into/in to piles.
“Yes, you are,” Aaron replied, separating the pieces into piles.
I was turning into my driveway. Or he turned into the parking lot.
I’m not sure if it should be into, which is correct, I think, or if it should be in to for clarity.
Using the interpretation that one of the main uses of the preposition into is to indicate movement toward the “inside” of a place, the sentences would be: I was turning into my driveway. He turned into the parking lot.
I will look into it or I will look in to it
I was booked into our local hospital/ I was booked in to our local hospital?
I was booked into our local hospital.
I will look into it.
“The Awkward Moment Wen U Wake Up In The Morning n See Ur Phone Into Pieces” is this a correct usage ? ? ?
I am assuming that this is purposely written in a “text message” style. The phrase is not grammatically correct as it is not a complete sentence, so I am assuming it would be used as a headline or title. If so, the correct wording would be “The Awkward Moment When You Wake Up in the Morning and See Your Phone Is in Pieces.”
Don’t give in to temptation
or
Don’t give into temptation
Which is correct?
Thanks
Don’t give in to temptation.
find the area you can plug in to, or find the area you can plug into?
Find the area you can plug into.
What about: I poured countless hours in to the creation of my portfolio.
I poured countless hours into the creation of my portfolio.
WAWA is the perfect start into low-risk surgery.
or
in to low-risk surgery?
WAWA is the perfect start into low-risk surgery.
“Step into these shoes and step in to fashion.” Correct?
“Step into these shoes and step into fashion.”
pulled into the Taco Bell parking lot or in to?
pulled into the Taco Bell parking lot
into “big-kid” underwear or in to “big-kid” underwear?
into “big kid” underwear
This is referring to a voicemail service.
It’s actually a service that they call in to?
You would either say, “They are calling into the voicemail service,” or “They are calling in to retrieve their voicemail.”
Please throw the toilet paper into/in to the basket.
“Into the basket” is correct.
incorporate the policy values in to my response letter or to incorporate the policy values into my response letter?
“Incorporate the policy values into my response letter” would be correct.
The cost could reach well into/in to the billions of dollars?
Gut says into….
You are correct. Into would be the right choice here.
…time-and-money-saving features built right into it/time-and-money-saving features built right in to it.
“Time-and-money-saving features built right into it” would be correct.
Wonderful site. Thank you.
Here’s one. What about turn data into/in to insight? My guess is “in to” because I can’t “enter” into insight. Am I correct?
“Turn data into insight” would be correct, since you are not actually turning data in. In this case “into” indicates movement or direction rather than entry.
Hi Jane! Two questions….
I’m not sure if I understood this correctly…You mention above that it is not correct to use “log into” since the expression is “log in” so we should therefore use “Log In To”…but later you say to use “plug into” but isn’t the expression “Plug in” so shouldn’t that also be “Plug In To”?
Secondly, why would we say, “He’s just not that into you.” when obviously we are not talking about him going inside or becoming ‘you’?
Thanks for the help!
If you were to say, “I need to plug in to charge my phone” (or do another task), then you would use “plug in.” Otherwise you would use “plug into” (something). Regarding “He’s just not that into you,” in this case the word “into” means “involved with or interested in.” It does not indicate actual entry or movement.
Is there a difference in usage when discussing hobbies?
For example:
I’m into sports.
I’m in to playing sports.
The correct usage would be “I’m into sports” or “I’m into playing sports.” In both cases, the word “into” means “involved with or interested in.”
(There’s or there is) no longer a need to sort documents (in to or into) two categories which will be a more efficient process.
“There is no longer a need to sort documents into two categories which will be a more efficient process,” is correct. In formal writing it is recommended that contractions such as there’s should be avoided.
How about the use of “into” with “only”?
Where should I place the qualifier “only” when trying to distinguish between when a record should be entered into the Red file, but not into the Red file AND the Green file?
Would one use
“A record should be entered only into the Red file in the following situations”
or
“A record should be entered into only the Red file in the following situation”?
(It should definitely NOT be “A record should be entered into the Red file in the following situations only” or “only the following situations” because we are not qualifying the situation, we are qualifying the file.)
Thanks!
The word “only” is commonly misplaced in sentences. “Only” should emphasize the word or phrase that immediately follows it. Since you want to emphasize the red file, “A record should be entered into only the red file in the following situations,” would be better.
Question: Was it a direct hit to your mouth or was it a specific side of your mouth? Answer: Straight into my mouth. I’m thinking into because it wasn’t inside of his mouth but to the inside corner of his mouth. Is this correct?
Since it was not inside the mouth, “Straight to my mouth,” would be the best usage here.
I appreciate the effort you put into/in to the recommendation?
I appreciate the effort you put into the recommendation.
What about the following:
a. They braved their way into/in to nursing.
b. They couldn’t be talked into/in to touring the mansions
c. They were wrong to goad the into/in to war.
e. They caved into/in to using the old musket.
f. They tried to incense her into/in to saying something against her will.
g. They could coax the devil into/in to shedding his evil ways.
h. They recruited the townsfolk into/in to taking sides.
i. They motivated them into/in to putting up a good fight.
j. They had to wean them into/in to the sound of a gun.
k. They were shamed into/in to deserting.
l. They chimed into/in to help him sing the remaining hymn
m. They baited him into/in to giving up his secret.
n. They gave into/in to signing up the petition.
o. They couldn’t be duped into/in to changing their minds.
In to is correct for sentences l and n. The others would use into. In sentence n, the word up is an extra preposition and is not needed in the sentence
He will be sworn into the Washington Bar. Or, He will be sworn in to the Washington Bar?
He will be sworn into the Washington Bar.
Pity we’re not really into/in to imbeciles?
Although this appears to be either a serious insult or a marginally distasteful sarcastic remark, I will say that the correct usage would be into.
Earlier, you posted that the correct way to use in to/into in the following sentence was this: She is into sports. I am confused, however because that sentence does not anwer the question “where.” It’s WHAT does she enjoy? So wouldn’t it be “She is in to sports?”
in this case, the word into means “involved with or interested in.” When you are speaking of a hobby or interest, you would say that they are “into” it.
Thanks for providing guidance on so many questions regarding this issue — I’ve found this list very helpful.
I have a question about your response to Lisa’s list of statements from 10/24/2011.
You said that “into” was appropriate in all of her sentences except for one. I’m wondering about sentence ‘n’: They gave into / in to signing up the petition.
Are you recommending “into” because the phrasal verb “give into” is distinct from “give in”?
These into vs. in to situations can be tricky. Upon reconsideration, I believe that sentence n should use in to. However, the preposition up should be removed from the sentence so that it reads, “They gave in to signing the petition.” The response to Lisa’s question has been adjusted.
What about “You will never fit into/in to this family.”
You will never fit into this family.
Bring a pair of shoes to change into. -or- Bring a pair of shoes to change in to.
Bring a pair of shoes to change into. (Since your feet will be going into your shoes.)
All age groups will be broken down into divisions. (into or in to?)
All age groups will be broken down into divisions.
The policeman prevented us from entering in/into the hall. or just The policeman prevented us from entering the hall.
Since the word entering means “going in,” the words in or into are unnecessary.
The policeman prevented us from entering the hall.
Our new house is so big that we have plenty of room to grow into/in to.
Our house is so big that we have plenty of room to grow into.
How about this one:
Consent to Enter Into Settlement Agreement, or
Consent to Enter In To Settlement Agreement
(Both refer to the name of a document)
No matter how many time I look at this I get confused.
Consent to Enter Into Settlement Agreement
I just tuned into/in to NPR.
Since the phrase is “tune in” to radio, I just tuned in to NPR is correct.
What about “She is looking in to/into joining a gym.”
Thanks!
She is looking into joining a gym.
I am glad someone had the time to go 100 pages back in to my blog.
I am glad someone had the time to go 100 pages back into my blog.
The 5-year-old boy was brought into/in to the walk-in clinic by his grandmother. ?
The 5-year-old boy was brought into the walk-in clinic by his grandmother.
Party A enters into/in to a contract for services?
Other agreements Party B would enter into/in to are for similar services?
Thanks.
Party A enters into a contract for services.
Other agreements Party B would enter into are for similar services.
“brings into being” or “brings in to being”?
eg.
“It is a poem in which the author brings in to being the counter-intuitive argument that better people make the world a worse place.”
“brings into being”