CHAPTER 53

Using in, into, on, onto

In, into, on, and onto are often used incorrectly, not only in casual conversation, but also in formal

discussion and in the pages of newspapers and periodicals whose editors should know better.
Some writers seem to think that in and into are interchangeable or have the same meaning. They are
wrong. In states a place. The man was in the car. Into states a direction or movement. The man got into
the car. Likewise, the common expression Go jump in the lake ought to be Go jump into the lake, but it’s
too late to change it now. Those of us who care about clear communication should always insist that The
lady walked in the room means that she was already in the room when she decided to walk. The lady
walked into the room means that she was outside and she entered the room.
Similarly, on means a location or position. The stamp was on the letter, but She stuck the stamp onto
the letter means that she attached the stamp to the letter.
The word onto seems to be gradually vanishing. It appears less and less in conversation or in print and
its place is being taken by the simple on which now serves double duty as position and action. “The
passengers got on the plane,” and “The passengers were on the plane,” are both quite common now.
This is unfortunate because if clarity in communication is our primary aim, then the misuse of one word
that aids clear communication is to be regretted.