Onto or On To | Correct Spelling & Examples
Onto is a preposition that expresses movement. On to are words that can appear next to each other but which don’t work together as a single unit.
As a general rule, use onto—and not on to—when you mean “on top of” or “upon.”
- The cat jumped onto the roof.
- The cat jumped on to the roof.
Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to quickly and easily find any mistakes with onto and on to.
Table of contents
Onto vs on to
Onto is a preposition that indicates movement towards a destination or surface. It means “on top of,” “upon,” or in the sense of transportation, “inside.” It can also mean “aware of” as part of the idiom “onto something or someone.”
We got onto the airplane just in time.
The detective is onto the suspect’s plan.
I think he’s onto us – he knows we’re planning a surprise party.
Consider how you can’t use onto without a verb indicating movement:
The words on to sometimes appear next to each other. This mostly happens when “on” (or “on” and “to”) is part of a phrasal verb. Some common phrasal verbs that incorporate these words—with examples of how on to may appear in a sentence—are listed below.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example with on to |
|---|---|---|
| Hold on to | Grip tightly; maintain in possession | Mike’s a bad dancer, but if he holds on to a partner, he can usually follow their rhythm. |
| Go on to | Move on to the next part or stage | These patients have been cleared and can go on to the next stage of treatment. |
| Put on to | Direct or lead someone toward something | I’ll put you on to the best financial advisor in the city. |
| Turn on to | Cause someone to become interested in something | My sister turned me on to this caramel ice cream, and I can’t get enough of it. |
| Log on | Enter a digital platform | My mom logs on to her Facebook account every day. |
| Sign on | Agree to do something | Jenny signed on to the research project despite the fact that she’d have to relocate. |
| Move on | Progress or continue; recover emotionally | Now, moving on to the next topic … we need to discuss this opossum problem. |
To sum up, as a general rule:
- Use onto when describing movement or position.
- Use onto when you want to say that someone is aware of something.
- Use on to when “on” is part of the verb.
- Walk until you see a stream, and after crossing, continue onto the large rock and then you should see the trail turn left.
- Walk until you see a stream, and after crossing, continue on to the large rock and then you should see the trail turn left.
The first option suggests getting on top of the large rock, while the second suggests the meaning of continuing towards the rock after crossing the stream.
Frequently asked questions about onto or on to
- Is it on to something or onto something?
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It can be “on to something” or “onto something” depending on the context. Choosing onto or on to changes the meaning.
“Be onto something or someone” is an idiom that means “to be aware of something or someone” (e.g., “With these recent clues, you might be onto something”).
“On to something” can appear when “on” is part of a phrasal verb (e.g., “I like hanging out with her because she’s always turning me on to something new”).
To avoid mistakes with these phrases, try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.
- Is it hold onto or hold on to?
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It’s “hold on to,” because “hold on to” is a phrasal verb. It means “to keep something” (e.g., “I held on to his letters”) or “to grip tightly” (e.g., “Hold on to the rope!”).
Choosing onto or on to can be confusing. “Onto” is a preposition that means “on top of” or “upon” and must be used with verbs that express movement (e.g., “Climb onto the rock”).
To make sure you use these words correctly, use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.
- Is it onto the next or on to the next?
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It’s “on to the next” when using this phrase with phrasal verbs like “move on” or “go on” that mean continue (e.g., “Now, let’s move on to the next topic”).
“Onto the next” would suggest physically moving onto something that is next in a sequence, as “onto” is a preposition that means “on top of” or “upon” (e.g., “Now, jump onto the next platform”).
Try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to make sure you’re using onto and on to correctly.
