What is the difference between into and in to?

Answer 1

"In to" should only be two words if it's part of a phrasal verb that ends with in (not into), like the phrase jump in.

When I ran into this question, I decided to jump in to answer it.

Another example: "turn in"

A) I turned my term report in to my teacher. - Correct

B) I turned my term report into my teacher. - Incorrect

In sentence A, it's clear that I submitted my term report to my teacher. In sentence B, it sounds like I got my term report to transform into my teacher!

Therefore, a knowledge of phrasal verbs is needed to decipher your question.

Other phrasal verbs to which this may apply: break in, butt in, cut in, get in, give in, go in, hand in, kick in, put in, pull in, rush in, write in, zoom in

For all the other verbs in the world, you can decide whether it's best to use either in or into, but usually not in to. I pour Orange Juice into my glass, not in to it. One exception of this is if "to" is part of its own verb infinitive (e.g. At the bank, he walked in to make(inf.) a deposit.). It's good to know if the "into" is followed a noun or a verb.

It depends on if your verb is part of a phrase ending with in. You can cut into a checkout line, and you can cut into a piece of paper with scissors, but if you "cut in to" something, chances are you are interrupting or butting in, not using scissors.

C) She came into the boutique. - Correct

D) She came in to the boutique. - Awkward

E) She came in to see what was on sale at the boutique. - Correct

Sentences C and E are correct. In sentence E, "came in" is a phrasal verb and "to see" is a verb infinitive. There is a space between them because they are separate parts, whereas in sentence C, "into" is just a preposition in its own right. I have seen sentences like D in casual writing, but I assume it's just the writer's mistake.

Answer 2

"Into" is a preposition that indicates movement toward the inside of an object or place. "In to" is a combination of the preposition "in" and the adverb "to," used when "in" belongs with a verb that is followed by "to".