It is “log in to”. “Log in” is a phrasal verb, and “to” indicates the destination or purpose.
Key takeaways:
"Into" combines movement or direction with involvement or transformation.
"In to" is two separate words used when "in" is part of a phrase, like "log in," followed by "to."
Use "into" for physical or metaphorical entry, like "walked into the room."
Use "in to" when each word functions separately, such as "check in to the hotel."
Context determines the correct usage; focus on the meaning.
These distinctions ensure clarity in writing and help avoid confusion.
Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs
English can be a tricky language, and even native speakers sometimes stumble over the subtle differences between words and
Phrases | Example | Explanation |
in to | He logged in to his account. | "In" is part of the phrasal verb "log in," and "to" shows the destination. |
Please come in to discuss the project. | "In" relates to the action of coming, and "to" links to the purpose of the action. | |
He checked in to the hotel late at night. | "Checked in" is a phrasal verb, and "to" shows the direction or destination. | |
The actor leaned in to whisper a secret to the director. | "In" refers to leaning closer, while the first instance of "to" indicates the purpose and the second occurrence indicates the direction of the action. | |
into | She walked into the room. | "Into" shows movement from outside to inside the room. |
He threw the ball into the basket. | "Into" shows direction toward and entry into the basket. | |
The liquid transformed into a solid. | "Into" indicates a change of state. | |
The car drove into the tunnel. | "Into" shows physical movement from outside to inside the tunnel. |
"Into" is a single word that describes movement, direction, or a change of state. It implies that something is entering or transitioning into something else.
She walked into the room. (Movement)
The caterpillar turned into a butterfly. (Change of state)
He dived into the water. (Direction)
In each of these examples, "into" conveys an action of entering or transitioning.
"In to" is a combination of two separate words—"in" (a preposition) and "to" (a preposition or part of an
Please come in to discuss your project. ("In" relates to the action of coming, and "to" links to the purpose of the action.)
He logged in to his account. ("In" describes the state of being logged, and "to" indicates the destination.)
Here, "in to" functions as two separate words with distinct grammatical roles.
Check for movement or transition: If the sentence involves entering or transitioning, "into" is likely the correct choice.
Example: She went into the building.
Separate the words and test: If "in" and "to" still make sense as individual words in the sentence, use "in to."
Example: He turned in to the parking lot.
Here, "in" relates to turning, and "to" points to the parking lot as the direction.
Replace with "Inside": If you can replace "into" with "inside" without changing the meaning, then "into" is the correct word.
Example: She went into (inside) the store.
Test your understanding with these sentences:
He jumped ___ the pool. (into/in to)
Let’s tune ___ the radio station. (into/in to)
The magician turned a scarf ___ a dove. (into/in to)
Using “Into” when “In to” is needed:
Incorrect: Log into your account.
Correct: Log in to your account.
“Log in” is a phrasal verb, and “to” indicates the destination.
Using “In to” when “Into” is correct:
Incorrect: She stepped in to the room.
Correct: She stepped into the room.
This shows movement from one place to another.
Understanding the difference between "into" and "in to" boils down to context.
Use "into" for movement, direction, or transformation.
Use "in to" when "in" is part of a phrase (e.g., "log in") and "to" serves a separate purpose, like indicating direction, purpose, or destination.
Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between "into" and "in to":
Alice fell ___ the rabbit hole.
in to
He checked ___ the hotel late last night.
into
Superman flew ___ the burning building.
Please log ___ your account to view details.
The witch turned the prince ___ a frog.
Master the nuances of grammar and elevate your writing skills with this comprehensive course: Grokking the Technical Writing Process—your gateway to mastering tricky topics like 'into' vs. 'in to' and beyond!
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To enhance technical writing and minimize common grammar mistakes, continue exploring these topics:
Commonly confused words (homophones & similar-sounding words): These words sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.
Prepositions & usage differences: These words and phrases are often confused due to subtle contextual differences.
Punctuation & formatting: These involve rules for using dashes, abbreviations, and sentence structure.
Grammar & sentence structure: These deal with pronoun choices, verb usage, and comparison.
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