Into vs. In To: How Do I Use Them?

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 phrasesA phrase is a group of words that work together as a single unit but do not form a complete sentence— playing the role of a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb instead. E.g., "The black cat" acts as a noun phrase that needs to be the part of a sentence.. One such common confusion arises between "into vs. in to," as these phrases can have different meanings depending on the context. While they may look almost identical, these terms have distinct uses and meanings. This Answer will break down the differences to help you use them correctly.

Examples of "into" and "in to"

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.

How to use "Into"

"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.

Examples of "Into":

  • 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.

How to use "In to"

"In to" is a combination of two separate words—"in" (a preposition) and "to" (a preposition or part of an infinitive verbAn infinitive verb is the base form of a verb, often preceded by "to," such as "to run" or "to eat," and it functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.). The meaning depends on the context in which the words are used. Unlike "into," this phrase does not describe movement or transition.

Examples of "In to":

  • 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.

How to tell the difference

  1. Check for movement or transition: If the sentence involves entering or transitioning, "into" is likely the correct choice.

    1. Example: She went into the building.

  2. Separate the words and test: If "in" and "to" still make sense as individual words in the sentence, use "in to."

    1. Example: He turned in to the parking lot.

      1. Here, "in" relates to turning, and "to" points to the parking lot as the direction.

  3. Replace with "Inside": If you can replace "into" with "inside" without changing the meaning, then "into" is the correct word.

    1. Example: She went into (inside) the store.

Quick test to avoid mistakes

Test your understanding with these sentences:

  1. He jumped ___ the pool. (into/in to)

  1. Let’s tune ___ the radio station. (into/in to)

  1. The magician turned a scarf ___ a dove. (into/in to)

Common mistakes

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.

Conclusion

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.

Test your understanding: into vs. in to

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between "into" and "in to":

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

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.


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Frequently asked questions

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Is it "log into" or "log in to"?

It is “log in to”. “Log in” is a phrasal verb, and “to” indicates the destination or purpose.


Is it "tune into" or "tune in to"?

It is “tune in to”. “Tune in” is a phrasal verb, and “to” connects it to the target (e.g., a radio station).


How to use "into" in a sentence?

Use “into” to describe movement, direction, or transformation. Example: “She walked into the room.”


How to use "in to" in a sentence?

Use “in to” when “in” is part of a phrasal verb and “to” shows purpose or direction. Example: “He checked in to the hotel.”


What is an example of "into" in grammar?

Example: “The cat jumped into the box.” (“Into” shows movement toward the interior of the box.)


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