Into vs. In To

"Into" and "in to" are two little phrases that can cause a lot of confusion. But once you learn the simple rule that separates them, you'll be able to use them with confidence. It all comes down to that one little space.

The Basic Difference

Here's the one thing you need to remember:

• Into (one word) is about movement or transformation.
• In to (two words) is just the word "in" followed by the word "to."

Into: The Word of Movement and Change

Use into (one word) when you're talking about something moving from the outside to the inside, or something changing from one thing to another.

For Movement and Direction

Physical movement:

• She walked into the room.
• The cat jumped into the box.
• Pour the batter into the pan.

Abstract movement:

• He fell into a deep sleep.
• The company is expanding into new markets.
• The conversation turned into an argument.

For Transformation

• The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
• Water freezes into ice.
• The startup grew into a major corporation.

For Interest or Involvement

• She's really into classic rock.
• He got into cryptocurrency last year.

A Simple Memory Trick

Think of it this way: Into is about going inside something.

In To: Two Separate Words

Use in to (two words) when "in" and "to" just happen to be next to each other in a sentence, but they're not working together as a single idea.

Common Scenarios

When "in" is part of a phrasal verb: A phrasal verb is a verb that's made up of more than one word (like "log in," "turn in," or "drop in").

• You need to log in to your account. (The verb is "log in.")
• Please turn your paper in to the teacher. (The verb is "turn in.")
• I'm just dropping in to say hello. (The verb is "drop in.")

When "to" is part of an infinitive verb (to + verb):

• He came in to help with the project. ("to help" is the infinitive.)
• She stayed in to study for her exam. ("to study" is the infinitive.)

A Simple Memory Trick

Try to put a word between "in" and "to." If the sentence still makes sense, then you should use two words.

• "He came in [quickly] to help." (This works, so it's "in to.")
• "She walked into [quickly] the room." (This doesn't work, so it's "into.")

When to Use Which

Use INTO when:

• You're talking about entering something. ("Walk into the house.")
• You're talking about something changing. ("It turned into a mess.")
• You're talking about an interest. ("She's into yoga.")

Use IN TO when:

• "In" is part of a phrasal verb. ("Log in to your email.")
• "To" is part of an infinitive verb. ("I came in to talk.")

Common Mix-Ups

Login vs. Log In

• Incorrect: "Login to your account."
• Correct: "Log in to your account."
• Also correct: "Login is required." ("Login" is a noun here.)

Turn In vs. Into

• "Turn into the driveway." (Enter the driveway.)
• "Turn your homework in to the teacher." (Submit your homework.)
• "He turned into a monster." (He transformed.)

Test Yourself

Choose the right option:

1. The investigation looked (into/in to) the company's finances.
2. You need to sign (into/in to) the website to see your messages.
3. The witch turned the prince (into/in to) a frog.
4. She decided to stay (into/in to) watch a movie.
5. The burglars broke (into/in to) the house.
6. Please hand your assignments (into/in to) the front office.
7. The path leads (into/in to) the woods.
8. He came (into/in to) see how I was doing.
9. The kids ran (into/in to) the playground.
10. She logged (into/in to) her computer.

Quick Cheat Sheet

The Substitution Test

• Can you replace it with "inside"? → Use into.
• Can you replace it with "in order to"? → Use in to.

The Separation Test

• Can you put a word between "in" and "to"? → Use in to.

Final Thoughts

Remember: into is one idea of movement or change. In to is just two separate words that happen to be neighbors. Master this simple difference, and you'll never stumble into this common grammar trap again.

Answer Key: 1. into, 2. in to, 3. into, 4. in to, 5. into, 6. in to, 7. into, 8. in to, 9. into, 10. in to