Into vs In To | Examples, Definition & Differences
Into and in to are pronounced the same, but they have different grammatical uses.
- Into (without space) is a preposition that describes insertion, collision, transformation, or entry. It is also used to express that someone is involved with or interested in something.
- In to (with space) is a combination of the two prepositions “in” and “to.” These words are kept separate when they are not connected, such as when “in” is part of a phrasal verb (e.g., “the teacher stepped in to break up the fight”).
Examples: Into in a sentence | Examples: In to in a sentence |
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Sorry, I’m not into men! | The criminal was turned in to the police by his own mom! |
Luke quickly ran into the bathroom before the meeting. | I was just checking in to see how you’re doing. |
The artist put a lot of thought into each brushstroke of the masterpiece. | Do you all want to chip in to buy a gift for Samuel? |
How to use into
The preposition into is used to describe:
- Something moving inside of something else
- Something colliding with something else
- Someone who is interested in something
- A mathematical division
- A transformation
I bumped into another car in the parking lot.
Over the holidays, I’ve really gotten into ice-skating.
How many times does 5 go into 25?
Do you think we can turn our garage into a spare bedroom?
How to use in to
In and to are two prepositions that can appear together when “in” is part of a phrasal verb and “to” is part of an infinitive verb phrase. In this context, using “into” is wrong.
- Leila broke into save her dog.
- Leila broke in to save her dog.
- I tried logging into access the new laptop.
- I tried logging in to access the new laptop.
In some cases, the choice can affect the meaning of your sentence, such as when two similar phrasal verbs exist, one of which uses “in,” while the other one uses “into.”
Dex is turning Jake in to the police [reporting someone].
Frequently asked questions about into vs in to
- Is it log into or log in to?
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The correct version is log in to because “log in” is a phrasal verb. “To” often follows “log in” as part of an infinitive verb phrase or a prepositional phrase, but “in” and “to” should be kept separate.
- Can you log in to update your contact information?
- Emily logs in to her work computer every morning.
- Is it tune into or tune in to?
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The correct version is tune in to because “tune in” is a phrasal verb. “To” often follows “tune in” as part of an infinitive verb phrase, but “in” and “to” should be kept separate.