Onto vs On To
Onto and on to may seem interchangeable, but they have distinct meanings and uses. Onto is a preposition meaning “to position on.” Meanwhile, on to is not a word or a phrase unto itself but rather two words that are often used side by side.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Onto (preposition)
To position on.
To become aware of.
Examples:
The cat jumped onto the shelf.
The biker took a right onto Oak Road.
I began to think the detective was onto something.
In the first two examples, onto is used to describe movement of something or someone into a new position. In the last example, onto describes a more figurative movement of a detective towards cracking a case.
On to
Examples:
To do his homework, he had to log on to his device.
The diners couldn’t wait to move on to the last course.
In both examples, there is no repositioning as denoted by the preposition “onto.” Rather, the words on and to are merely positioned next to each other in both sentences.
The distinction between onto and on to is slim, and sometimes it is okay to use the two interchangeably. The only time it can get iffy is when the meanings are not the same. While it is acceptable to used “log on to” and “log onto” interchangeably, to say “move onto the last course” implies physical movement onto one’s dinner. If you aren’t trying to describe repositioning, it is best to stick with on to.
Main Points
- Onto is a preposition meaning “to position on.”
- On to is not a word or a phrase unto itself but rather two words that are often used side by side.
If you aren’t trying to describe repositioning, it is best to stick with on to.