{"id":6973,"date":"2024-05-29T06:00:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T11:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=6973"},"modified":"2024-05-28T12:08:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T17:08:16","slug":"onto-vs-on-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/verbs\/onto-vs-on-to\/","title":{"rendered":"Onto<\/em> vs. On To<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

(This discussion revisits the subject of On to vs. Onto<\/a> first posted in January 2010.)<\/p>\n

English is a rich, descriptive language with a versatile vocabulary. It also is one that can keep even well-studied native writers on their toes with its many nuances, such as those we’ll find among homophones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another English subtlety lies in morphemes<\/a> that can be joined or separated to form different meanings with the same letters. One such example is onto<\/em> and on to<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In this discussion, we’ll consider the difference between them as well as when and how they’re typically used.<\/p>\n

Definition: Onto<\/em><\/h2>\n

The single word\u00a0<\/em>onto<\/em><\/a>\u00a0is most commonly used as a\u00a0preposition<\/a>\u00a0that can mean “on,” “upon,” or “to a position on”: Randy jumped onto<\/u> the ledge<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Informally, it also can mean “being in an intuitive state of awareness about”: The commission is onto<\/u> the financier’s pyramid scheme.<\/em><\/p>\n

More Examples: Onto<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we can fix the antenna, we first have to climb onto<\/u> the roof.<\/p>\n

The crowd erupted in applause even before she stepped onto<\/u> the podium.<\/p>\n

Larry favors placing another restriction onto<\/u> the last one, but the rest of us don’t.<\/p>\n

It’s hard to throw a surprise retirement party when the guest of honor is onto<\/u> the interoffice code words we’re using to plan it.<\/p>\n

How long have you been onto<\/u> the mayor’s cutting corners with the budget?<\/p>\n

The dogs are onto<\/u> what the cats have been doing to hide their food.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Definition: On to<\/em><\/h2>\n

The word onto<\/em> can be split as on to<\/em>. In this context, the word on<\/em> becomes part of a phrasal verb<\/a>, which is a verb that combines with another word to describe an action (e.g., take<\/u> in<\/u><\/em>, give<\/u> up<\/u>). The other word in a phrasal verb is called a particle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The meaning of on to<\/em> is determined by the verb for which it is a particle: e.g.<\/a>, pass on<\/em>, move on<\/em>, carry on<\/em>, go on, add on<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Examples: On to<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The priceless antique has been passed on<\/u> to<\/u> the generational heir in succession.<\/p>\n

We’ve been here for four hours. Can we please move on<\/u> to<\/u> the next car show?<\/p>\n

The subject was difficult, but because of her focus and excellent attitude, Bernice carried on<\/u> to<\/u> complete her doctoral thesis.<\/p>\n

After a slow start to his career, Jeremy went on<\/u> to<\/u> become a prolific engineer.<\/p>\n

The Chaudharis are planning to add on<\/u> another family area to<\/u> the amusement park.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many of us also are familiar with the phrasal verb log on<\/em> followed by to<\/em> within the digital realm:<\/p>\n

Please update your password to log on<\/u> to<\/u> your account.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because the word on<\/em> in on to<\/em> is part of a phrasal verb, the word to<\/em> operates in a prepositional or infinitive<\/a> capacity:<\/p>\n

The priceless antique has been passed on<\/u> [phrasal verb] to the generational heir<\/u> [prepositional phrase] in succession.<\/p>\n

After a slow start to his career, Jeremy went on<\/u> [phrasal verb] to become a prolific engineer<\/u> [infinitive phrase].<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You may also notice that a phrasal verb’s definition is often not apparent from its words considered alone: pass on<\/em> as a verb with a particle means something other than pass<\/em> and on<\/em> interpreted separately:<\/p>\n

The priceless antique has been passed on<\/u> to<\/u> the generational heir in succession.<\/em><\/p>\n

Which museums will we pass<\/u> on<\/u> the way to<\/u> the airport?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This characteristic typically makes phrasal verbs and, by association, on to<\/em> idiomatic in American English.<\/p>\n

Onto<\/em> vs. On to<\/em>: Increasing Our Awareness<\/h2>\n

Now that we’ve discussed the difference between onto<\/em> and on to<\/em>, we can also be more alert to when they can be clearly interchangeable and when they can blur, requiring us to pay extra attention.<\/p>\n

For example, while log on<\/em> is common vernacular, we can likewise use log onto<\/em> without losing the intended message:<\/p>\n

Please update your password to log on<\/u> to<\/u> your account.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please update your password to log onto<\/u> your account.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Writing either statement will not confuse an audience. With that in mind, which following sentence would be most clear and accurate?<\/p>\n

After each rock band finishes their performance, they are asked to move on<\/u> to<\/u> the mechanical riser that will return them to the upper suite.<\/em><\/p>\n

After each rock band finishes their performance, they are asked to move onto<\/u> the mechanical riser that will return them to the upper suite.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Precision will depend on what we mean to convey. If we are explaining the rock band should move a distance to another location, we would use the first sentence. If we are expressing they should place themselves on the riser, we would write the second.<\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Correctly choose onto<\/em> or on to<\/em> in each sentence.<\/p>\n

1. Please move the charcoal grill [onto \/ on to] the deck.<\/p>\n

2. As soon as I find a TV, I’ll turn [onto \/ on to] watch.<\/p>\n

3. The Paveks want more space, so they’re thinking of adding [onto \/ on to] the garage.<\/p>\n

4. It looks like the severe weather is moving [onto \/ on to] the next region.<\/p>\n

5. Did Shane really say he’d climb [onto \/ on to] that cactus for a hundred bucks?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. Please move the charcoal grill onto<\/strong> the deck.<\/p>\n

2. As soon as I find a TV, I’ll turn on<\/strong> to watch.<\/p>\n

3. The Paveks want more space, so they’re thinking of adding on to<\/strong> the garage.<\/p>\n

4. It looks like the severe weather is moving on to<\/strong> the next region.<\/p>\n

5. Did Shane really say he’d climb onto<\/strong> that cactus for a hundred bucks?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(This discussion revisits the subject of On to vs. Onto first posted in January 2010.) English is a rich, descriptive language with a versatile vocabulary. It also is one that can keep even well-studied native writers on their toes with its many nuances, such as those we’ll find among homophones. Another English subtlety lies in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,53,33,37,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adjectives-adverbs","category-idioms","category-prepositions","category-spelling","category-verbs"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6973"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6973"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6979,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6973\/revisions\/6979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}