‘Into’ vs. ‘in to’: What’s the difference?

When do I use ‘into’ vs ‘in to’?

Here’s a simple guide for determining whether you should use “into” or “in to” in your writing:

• Into typically answers the question, “where?”
• In to may be considered a shortened way to say, “in order to.”

Take note of what you’ve written and mentally replace “into” or “in to” with the word “where.” If the second half of your sentence effectively answers the question of “where,” use “into.” Try out the sentence by using the phrase “in order to” if it doesn’t work. If the sentence makes sense that way, use “in to.”

This is a quick trick to help you remember which word (or words) to use in the moment, but taking the time to understand the parts of speech will help you more in the long run.

‘Into’ is a preposition

A preposition shows a relationship between the words in a phrase or clause. “Into” is a preposition that’s used in relation to a verb to place something in space or time. In most cases, “into” will place an object or person inside of another object or another space. It can also be used to show transformation.

Here are some examples of using “into” as a preposition:

• When the moon was full, he turned into a werewolf.
• He backed the car into the garage.
• I’m really into collecting vintage teacups!
• On a hot day, the dog likes to cool off by jumping into the pool.
• It’s February; we are well into winter.

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‘In to’ are separate words

“In” and “to” are both classified as a preposition but can also be adverbs. When they appear next to each other in a sentence, it may seem logical to put them together as one word. In these instances, remember that if you can’t substitute “into” with “where,” you should use “in to.”

• I just dropped in to see what condition my car was in.
• We all chipped in to buy him a birthday present.
• I’m going in to see if my favorite show is on.

Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is made up of two or more words that come together to make a new verb while ditching their original meanings. Think of the term “get over,” which can be used as a way to recover from something, and how it means something completely different from the individual words “get” and “over.” Many phrasal verbs contain the word “in,” which is why the mistake of using “into” when you should use “in to” is so common.

Common phrasal verbs include:

• Log in
• Chime in
• Turn in
• Move in
• Hand in
• Chip in
• Hang in
• Let in

When “in” is part of a phrasal verb, it’s always the standalone word “in,” not “into.” Think of it this way, when you’re saying goodnight, you might say that you’re going to “turn in to bed.” You wouldn’t say that you’re going to “turn into bed” because hopefully, no physical transformation is happening.

However, there are also phrasal verbs that involve “into.” Some of these are:

• Break into
• Bump into
• Cut into

In these instances, think of how the word is being used in a sentence. You might say that someone “cut into a birthday cake” but you might also say that someone “cut in to a conversation to make their point.” Notice how “cut into” tells where someone cut, and how “cut in to” indicates an interruption.

If you’re still having trouble remembering which word (or words) to use, try a grammar editing tool and get your spelling, grammar, and sentence structure checked in real time. It’s easy to get tripped up on homophones, but having a digital assistant to correct your grammar along with a few tips to help you remember the difference will keep you from making the same mistakes.