One common mix-up in English involves the phrases “in to” and “into.” At first glance, they might seem identical, but they serve very different roles in sentences.

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“Into” is a preposition that shows movement towards the inside of a place or into a particular state (She walked into the room). “In to” combines the adverb ‘in’ with the preposition ‘to’, often as part of a phrasal verb or to indicate an action (He turned in to ask a question). If you want to learn more about these differences in detail, understand common errors, and get some language practice, then we have something to offer you.

Into – A Preposition

“Into” is a preposition used in the English language to express movement towards the inside of a location or to signify transformation into a different state. This preposition helps to highlight the transition of an object or person from one position to another or one form to another.

Into vs In to

For example, when we say, “Jessica walked into the room,” we mean Jessica moved from outside the room to inside it. Another example is, “The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly,” which describes the caterpillar’s change into a completely different form.

“Into” is also used to indicate someone’s involvement in a particular state or activity. Saying “He got into trouble” implies that he became involved in something bad.

Common phrases using “into” include “break into,” as in entering forcibly, and “look into,” meaning to investigate something. Whether indicating direction, transformation, or investigation, “into” plays an important role in constructing these sentences. Check your grammar and be confident in your work!

In to – Two Separate Words

Unlike “into,” which is a single preposition, “in to” comprises two separate words: the adverb ‘in’ and the preposition ‘to.’ This distinction is important as it affects how we understand and construct sentences. “In” typically ends a verbal phrase, and “to” begins either an infinitive or a prepositional phrase. For example, in the command “turn in to win,” “turn in” suggests submitting something, and “to win” indicates the purpose. Another example is “come in to discuss,” where “come in” means to enter, and “to discuss” outlines the reason for entering.

Key phrases and idioms that commonly use “in to” include “give in to” (surrender to), “make it in to” (succeed in entering), and “call in to” (phone into a place).

Here’s a list of some more examples illustrating the use of “in to” versus “into,” focusing on situations where “in” is part of the verb phrase followed by “to.”

  1. Turn in to winRemember to turn in your entries to win the prize.
  2. Bring in to discussPlease bring in your reports to discuss during the meeting.
  3. Drop in to say helloShe might drop in to say hello later.
  4. Sign in to startSign in to start your session.
  5. Plug in to chargePlug in your phone to charge it overnight.
  6. Go in to exploreThey went in to explore the cave.
  7. Check in to receive your badgeCheck in at the desk to receive your conference badge.
  8. Call in to participateCall in to participate in the meeting.
  9. Break in to adjustHe had to break in to adjust the settings.
  10. Log in to accessLog in to access your account.

“Into” vs. “In To” and Phrasal Verbs

Knowing the difference between “into” and “in to” can be tricky, especially when dealing with phrasal verbs. A common phrasal verb where this confusion occurs is “log in.” Correctly, one would say, “log in to check your email.” Here, “log in” is the action of accessing an account, and “to check your email” describes the purpose of logging in. People often mistakenly combine “in” with “to,” writing it as “login into check your email,” which muddles the clarity of the verb and the prepositional phrase.

Other examples include “check in to your flight” versus “check into your hotel.” The first uses “in to” because “check in” is a phrasal verb meaning to register upon arrival and “to your flight” specifies where. The second, “check into,” uses “into” to indicate moving towards something, in this case, entering the hotel.

Into vs In to

Training Exercises

Fill in the blanks with either “into” or “in to” to correctly complete the sentences:

  1. She walked _______ the room to find everyone waiting.
  2. He had to log _______ the system to update the software.
  3. The kids jumped _______ the lake to cool off during the hot day.
  4. Can you go _______ the store to pick up some milk?
  5. The magician turned the handkerchief _______ a dove.
  6. Please come _______ the office to discuss your report.
  7. He crashed _______ a pole while trying to park the car.
  8. I need to drop _______ the meeting to give a quick update.
  9. She merged _______ traffic smoothly despite the heavy rain.
  10. He brought the documents _______ the meeting to review them with the team.

Answers

  1. into – Indicates movement towards the inside of the room.
  2. in to – “Log in” is a phrasal verb here, and “to update the software” shows purpose.
  3. into – Describes physical movement towards the inside of the lake.
  4. in to – “Go in” is part of a verb phrase here, and “to pick up some milk” is the purpose.
  5. into – Shows transformation of one object into another.
  6. in to – “Come in” is a verb phrase, and “to discuss your report” indicates purpose.
  7. into – Indicates movement towards and colliding with a pole.
  8. in to – “Drop in” is a phrasal verb, and “to give a quick update” is the purpose.
  9. into – Describes merging as a movement into traffic.
  10. in to – “Brought in” is the verb phrase, and “to review them with the team” describes the purpose.

FAQ

When should you use into or in to?

Use “into” when indicating movement towards something or a transformation, such as “She walked into the room” or “He turned into a dragon.” Use “in to” when “in” is part of a verb phrase followed by “to,” as in “He came in to eat.”

What is the difference in to and with?

“In to” and “with” serve different grammatical purposes. “In to” is used when “in” is part of a verb phrase that’s followed by the preposition “to,” indicating purpose or direction, such as “turn in to win.” “With” indicates accompaniment or possession, as in “She came with her friend.”

What are the 10 examples of into?

  • She walked into the house.
  • The car crashed into the tree.
  • He turned his hobby into a business.
  • She dived into the pool.
  • They went into the meeting together.
  • The magician transformed the rabbit into a dove.
  • The bird flew into the window.
  • She burst into tears.
  • He blended the ingredients into a smoothie.
  • She folded the letter into the envelope.
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