On to vs. Onto
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
On to vs. Onto
Rule 1: In general, use onto as one word to mean “on top of,” “to a position on,” “upon.”
Examples:
He climbed onto the roof.
Let’s step onto the dance floor.
Rule 2: Use onto when you mean “fully aware of,” “informed about.”
Examples:
I’m onto your scheme.
We canceled Julia’s surprise party when we realized she was onto our plan.
Rule 3: Use on to, two words, when on is part of the verb.
Examples:
We canceled Julia’s surprise party when we realized she caught on to our plan. (caught on is a phrasal verb)
I’m going to log on to the computer. (log on is a phrasal verb)
Pop Quiz
1. Billy, I’m worried that climbing on to/onto that tree limb is unsafe.
2. My daughter is going on to/onto graduate school.
3. Jose stepped down from the ladder on to/onto the ground.
4. The magician realized one person in the audience was on to/onto his trick.
5. After you drive five miles, turn on to/onto Highway 280 south.
6. The Gateses have moved on to/onto a life of philanthropy.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Billy, I’m worried that climbing onto that tree limb is unsafe.
2. My daughter is going on to graduate school.
3. Jose stepped down from the ladder onto the ground.
4. The magician realized one person in the audience was onto his trick.
5. After you drive five miles, turn onto Highway 280 south.
6. The Gateses have moved on to a life of philanthropy.
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If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
Using ‘up” is such a simple solution. Thank you. Your blog is invaluable, especially when working as a technical writer among software engineers
I am glad you find it helpful, Ron.
Excellent tip! I’ve never heard that before, but it makes it all clear.
Thank you for your kind comment, Lance.
In the sentence “I knew they were onto/on to us,” which is correct?
I knew they were onto us.
Would you say that “open plan living areas spill onto a deck”? or on to? Wasn’t sure about this one!
Open plan living areas spill onto a deck.
What about “you made it on to/onto a list of contenders” ? On to ?
You made it onto a list of contenders.
What about “turn on to South Blvd.” vs. “turn onto South Blvd.”?
Turn onto South Blvd.
Another easy solution is you can usually replace onto with upon. If not, you should probably be saying: on to.
This website is helpful! Thanks!
Yes, that is a good way to make sure you are using the correct word. Thanks for sharing.
Do we say “pour the water on the flowers” or “pour the water on to the flowers” or “pour the water onto the flowers”?
Either “pour the water on the flowers” or “pour the water onto the flowers” would be grammatically correct.
What about “I logged onto/on to Skype” ?
I logged on to Skype.
I’m confused by a couple of the examples above by adding up to onto that infers in that sentence that up means up vs. down, or a spill and a pour goes up vs. down due to gravity. If adding up truly means the direction up or even adding up in quantity, it seems nonsensical to add up in these instances: 1) Open plan living areas spill (up) onto a deck. Spills or falls can’t go up. 2) Pour the water onto the flowers. Pouring water (up) is impossible. Help me understand how adding the word up works if the action it creates in the sentence can’t happen. I like the idea of adding up but I can see myself doubting the reasoning and therefore making the wrong on to/onto choice. Thanks for your help!
In the first sentence, “Open plan living areas spill onto a deck,” the word spill does not take on the meaning of a liquid running out. Instead, it means flow (as in flow of space). With this meaning, it makes sense to say that open plan living areas spill upon a deck.
In the case of the second sentence, “Pour the water onto the flowers,” the technique suggested by “megan” above is more useful. If you think of it as “Pour water upon the flowers,” it makes more sense than “Pour water up onto the flowers.”
Which is correct: “…he was able to hold on to his branch” OR “…he was able to hold onto his branch”?
How about “…just to hang on to the branch…” OR “…just to hang onto the branch…”?
Using the “upon = onto” rule, the 1st example should be “on to” and the second “onto.” Agree? Or does it matter? I prefer “onto” in both cases.
Since you cannot add up before on in either of your examples, and, considering the definition of onto in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” use on to in both sentences.
He was able to hold on to his branch.
Just hang on to the branch.
This is just one of the many helps I’ve found on your website. I’ve recently become an editor for a new novelist. I’ve used this website to check words and usage I ‘m not certain of. Often I am right. Sometimes I don’t know. Sometimes I am wrong. But this website has been an invaluable resource for me to learn from and be certain that my projects are in great shape when finished.
I am glad you find our website helpful, Janet. Good luck with your work.
I am preparing my wedding invitations and I am writing the directions to the church and hotel. I don’t know whether to say “turn right onto Boston Road” or “turn right on to Boston Road.” Thanks for your advice! Elizabeth
Turn right onto Boston Road.
I’m a transcriptionist, and I have run into two separate instances.
Number 1: “I didn’t know there would be interest added on to the loan.”
Number 2: “So what initially was $10, onto that was added interest.”
Any help would be awesome!
I didn’t know there would be interest added on to the loan.
So what initially was $10, on to that was added interest.
How about the word “Log On” and “Log onto” when telling customers that they can check their account balance when they have log on to their internet banking account?
It should be “log on to your account” or “log onto your account”? I used the former. Is it correct?
Since the expression is “log on,” use “log on to your account.”
Would you say “That is something worth holding on to.” OR “That is something worth holding onto.”? My preference would be for “on to”.
Thank you.
Your preference is correct.
This is somewhat similar to Maria’s inquiry. There’s a lyric in a song that is written on the band’s website as “Hold onto chance” but I think it should be “Hold on to chance”. Which is correct? Thank you.
You are correct.
Would this be correct?
Put your hand (up) onto this shoulder.
Yes, that is correct.
Very interesting…i thought onto was my word but now all this makes me think otherwise…as i do not need up.
Here is my phrase.
Onto day four.
I guess it should be On to day four.
This looks so odd to my eye. What do you think?
On to day four is correct.
Is someone elected onto the board of directors or on to the board of directors? Thanks!
On is an unnecessary preposition in this case. It would be better to write, “She was elected to the board of directors.” Once elected, you might write, “She is on the board of directors.”
How about “out”? Does that fit the same rule as “up”?
For example, would they step “onto” a dance floor?
Considering the definition of onto in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” you would use onto since they are certainly “to a position on” the dance floor.
Is this book available in hard copy? I would like to have a copy. With a PhD and a PsyD under my belt, that means two dissertations: no one is as picky as a PhD panel! Your insights are concise, easy to understand — excellent.
Thank you for the kind words. You may order the book through a number of different sources at https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_book.asp.
How about…
“Almost every King had added on to the castle, and there was no…”
I’m assuming from your above comment on “log on,” that “added on” falls in that category, but I wanted to make sure
You are correct. “Add on” is a common phrase used when referring to the construction of an addition to a building. Also, since “king” is not part of a proper name but is used generically, do not capitalize.
Almost every king had added on to the castle.
What about this instance:
On to tomorrow.
I assume you would be using the phrase in a sentence such as “Today is finished; on to tomorrow.” In that case, on to would be correct, not onto.
Install the part onto the engine?
or
Install the part on to the engine?
Thank you.
Either of the following would be grammatically correct:
Install the part onto the engine. (to a position on)
Install the part on the engine.
The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
Is this correct?
Thanks
Since you are not literally holding each other up, use on to.
The best thing to hold on to in life is each other.
What about “the article is posted onto the website” or “the article is posted on to the website”? I think “up onto” is fine too but not very sure…
The word to is unnecessary in your sentence.
The article is posted on the website.
I think this website is onto something.
Your sentence is correct in every way!
Great tip. Since one would not get up onto a computer, I would assume they would simply get on to a computer? Still struggling with this one a bit. Thanks in advance.
Since the person is not physically up on the computer, you could say that someone is logged on to a computer.
What about I’m moving onto/on to graduate school?
I’m moving on to graduate school.
what about this: “she took the hurt and held on to it.”
is that correct?
Yes, on to is correct. Don’t forget to start your sentence with a capital S.
Could you help with the below:
Book onto/on to a 2012 construction course
We recommend, “Book a 2012 construction course” or “Enroll in a 2012 construction course.”
on/onto works for the first: “going ___ stage” and “first ___ the plane”?
The word to is unnecessary in your phrases. We recommend going on stage and first on the plane.
Is it:
“I love to turn them on to a great book.” OR
“I love to turn them onto a great book.”
Thanks!
Write “I love to turn them on to a great book.”
Is this sentence correct:
When she grabbed on to the chair, it fell onto her head.
Thanks!
I see that you are trying to imagine a single sentence that uses both on to and onto. While it’s a little hard to imagine the situation actually occurring, your sentence could be correct. Or, more simply, “When she grabbed on to the chair, it fell on her head.”
The rule is “use ‘onto’ when you could precede it with ‘up'”?
Do you use ‘on to’ in all other cases?
What about “I stepped down from the ladder [onto / on to] a skateboard that my son had left on the floor.”?
Maybe the rule should generalize ‘up’ to ‘up/down/left/right/over/under/etc.’ .
When it comes to English, there always seem to be exceptions to the rules. In general, “Use onto as one word if you can add up before on” is a sound rule and works most of the time. Sometimes, it can be a bit of a stretch. In your example, “I stepped down from the ladder onto a skateboard that my son had left on the floor” is correct since you ended in a position up on a skateboard. Generalizing the rule to include down, left, right, over, and under is not going to work, however.
And if you leave out the skateboard altogether, aren’t you still stepping “from the ladder down onto the floor”?
If I were to adopt the rule “Use ‘onto’ as one word if you can add ‘up’ before ‘on’” should I consider the rule to include an elliptical “and use ‘on to’ in cases where you CAN’T prefix it with ‘up’”?
In addition to the test of using the word up before on, we also need to consider the usage given in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” which may or may not include up before on. Therefore, “stepping from the ladder down onto the floor” is correct. It then follows that using on to in cases where you can’t prefix it with up is going too far. We will expand upon the “On to vs. Onto” blog in a future E-Newsletter.
A similar-looking complication arises with [into / in to]. I don’t think anyone would ever have to think about which to use in a sentence like “I turned them [into / in to] the police.” or “He turned water [into / in to] wine.” But I’m not so sure about “I turned my car [into / in to] the driveway.” I think I would write “into” but it’s surely a different “into” than the police example.
“I turned my car into the driveway” is correct since this is a proper use of the preposition into for indicating movement toward the inside of or in the direction of a place.
I too am having a hard time with the use of on vs. onto. I see many sources that also use the analogy of being able to put the word “up” before using “onto.” Do you turn “onto the highway” or “on to the highway”? As you don’t turn “up” on to the highway, I would assume “on to the highway” is correct. The same with “I towed the airplane out of the hangar and on to the ramp.” Another case: “screw a brain pressure monitor on to Sarah’s head.” And other instances, “fallen out of bed and on to the floor” and “a large porch built on to the front of the house.” This issue of on vs. onto is mind-boggling to me at times! I certainly will appreciate any direction from you that will help untangle this wacky word use for me.
We agree this can be mind boggling. There may be some instances where either word may be acceptable. In addition to the test of using the word up before on, we also need to consider the usage given in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” which may or may not include up before on. If you take that definition into consideration, one could argue for the use of onto in all of your examples. We will expand upon the “On to vs. Onto” blog in a future E-Newsletter.
How about “passionately helping students navigate their way through college and on to (onto) a successful career”
The correct spelling in your sentence should be on to.
which one is right?
‘All labels from Group 1 are not dragged on to the page’ or ‘All labels from group one are not dragged onto the page’
Considering the definition of onto in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” you would use onto.
All labels from Group 1 are not dragged onto the page.
Is the use of onto and into correct in this sentence…
As I stepped onto the slide, I was shocked because I could see so far into the distance.
Yes, your sentence is correct.
Would moving on to another classroom be correct or moving onto another classroom?
“Moving on to another classroom” is correct.
Jose stepped down from the ladder (up) onto the ground.
Your “up” before “onto” rule doesn’t make sense to me in this example, but otherwise, a helpful tool. Thank you.
In addition to the test of using the word up before on, we also need to consider the usage of onto given in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” which may or may not include up before on. Therefore, “stepped down from the ladder (down) onto the ground” is correct.
I appreciate the information, but, am I missing or was “on to” not defined, only “onto”..?
When do you use “on to”?
Thanks.
“On to” is a common two-word phrase: on followed by the preposition to. The on is often part of the verb in the sentence (hold on in the first example below), or sometimes it is an adverb (as in go on). To indicates movement, direction, nearness, or contact. Examples:
Hold on to your passport.
Go on to the next question.
Pass this onto a friend or pass this on to a friend?
“Pass this on to a friend” is correct.
I would think that for a novelist like myself, this rule about “onto” and “on to” would only apply when writing out the dialogue of characters in a book but not when describing the story plot inasmuch as “onto” appears to be purely a part of the American dialect. I feel patriotic that the British lost the war against us Americans in 1776, and I’m glad you published this article online. However, if one wishes to market their novel internationally, then I guess one has to show a certain degree of consideration to the rules set forth by Oxford University. It’s just like we Americans get to end our sentences in prepositions and British people don’t.
That is a dilemma for published writers. If one abides by the British rules, American grammarians may be critical, and vice versa, although allowance should be given for an author’s country of origin.
Quick question: Is it “His eyes locked on to Peter” or “His eyes locked onto Peter”?
This is one of those situations that could go either way, depending on whether you consider the verb to be locked, taking the preposition onto; or locked on, taking the preposition to. It makes no difference really.
Thank you for your time in creating this website.
Thank you for taking time to express gratitude.
As soon as we learn something, they are on to something different?
Speaking of kids with technology.
Transcribing audio.
“On to” is correct.
“Parents have asked if they can get on to our website.”
Would this be correct? It is a quote, so I cannot change the structure of the sentence.
Thanks in advance.
Either on to or onto is acceptable.
“…enhance the group that someday we can pass on to / onto the next generation.”
I used onto. Is that correct?
Thanks!
In your clause, pass on is a phrasal verb. Therefore, write pass on to.
I’m a Brazilian English teacher for years, and really never understood this on to/onto thingy. I live in Guyana, where English is spoken and my children go to school and I could not help them with this, but thanks to your very clear explanation now I do!
I took your advice from last January about keeping my grammar American as opposed to British, because I am American. Therefore, I did wish to ask you something.
Would I write>>>>>[After the fan gawked at the rock star, she came onto him.]? -OR- would I write>>>[After the fan gawked at the rock star, she came on to him.]?
I’m thinking that “come on” is like a two-word verb in which one word cannot survive without the other. Therefore, I would think that it would be more correct for me to write>>[After the fan gawked at the rock star, she came on to him.]
That is, I would use “on to” instead of “onto” in this event.
Yes, “on to” is correct in your example.
What about the sentence, “drain leaks onto the floor.” Is that ok? Because you could also say drain leaks upon the floor?
A proper sentence would be “The drain is leaking onto the floor” or “The drain leaks onto the floor.” “The drain leaks upon the floor” while grammatically correct, sounds awkward.
I must admit that I am still a bit confused after taking the pop quiz. In these examples would I be correct?
” I have sent a copy of your email on to Joe”
” I will forward your email on to Joe”
” Joe is onto your email”
” Joe has read your email and has gone on to other business”
All of the sentences are grammatically correct with added periods except possibly the third sentence. If the meaning is “Joe has moved on to reading your email,” write on to. If you mean that Joe is fully aware of or informed about the email, such as “Joe is onto your scheme,” then onto is correct.
If I were writing a play or a movie script in American English, which would be correct for me to write in a dialogue?
[The tabloid commentator said, “The Vietnam War era draft resister has been invited onto ‘The Steve Wilkos Show’ to give his side of the story.”]
–OR–
[The tabloid commentator said, “The Vietnam War era draft resister has been invited on to ‘The Steve Wilkos Show’ to give his side of the story.]
The Chicago Manual of Style’s Rule 8.185 says, “Titles of movies and of television and radio programs and series are italicized.” Therefore, we recommend the following:
The tabloid commentator said, “The Vietnam War-era draft resister has been invited on to The Steve Wilkos Show to give his side of the story.” OR
The tabloid commentator said, “The Vietnam War-era draft resister has been invited to appear on The Steve Wilkos Show to give his side of the story.”
Lyrics – ‘So hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you’ OR So hold on to me and I’ll hold on to you’ ?? Thanks
Since we are dealing with the phrasal verb to hold on, to is a separate word.
Is it correct to write:
“…those who grasp on to the autonomy of their individual influence”?
Both “onto” and “on to” could be correct. Perhaps you could leave it out altogether.
Is it correct to write:
”These days children can log onto the Internet easily”?
Since the expression is “log on,” write “log on to the Internet easily.”
I climbed onto the roof
log on to network
I climbed onto the roof.
I will log on to the network.
There is one grammar scenario concerning the use of “onto” or “on to” that really confuses me. Let’s take the situation where there is a guest backstage waiting to go out in front of a live audience on a TV show. Then, say, Ellen Degeneres brings him out to make his appearance before the live audience. Which would be correct for me to write?
[Ellen Degeneres brought the male actor onto her show immediately after she announced his name.]?
-OR- [Ellen Degeneres brought the male actor on to her show immediately after she announced his name.]?
I also had another separate question. I’ve read articles online in which actual grammatically-minded scholars have written the sentence: [The police came onto the scene after they found out about the bank robbery.]
I have also seen grammatically-minded scholars write: [The police came on to the scene after they found out about the bank robbery.]
Which way to write this sentence do you recommend? With “onto” or “on to”?
Lastly, I read what you said about always using “log on to” whenever I describe someone accessing the Internet or even going into their computer settings at their place of employment. However, would it still be correct for me to write: [He got onto the Internet after midnight.]?
The word on followed by the preposition to is correct for all three of your questions. The word onto, meaning “on top of, to a position on, upon,” does not fit with any of your sentences.
What would be the correct way to say this:
a) So now, onto the last topic we go; or
b) So now, on to the last topic we go
We recommend b).
Here’s a confusing one, though. We’re going to use a sentence with the phrase, “put me [“on to” or “onto”]
. . .,” meaning someone or something that informs one about something. Example: Jim put me onto [or is it “on to”] the fact that a circle has two sides, inside and outside!
Jim put me on to the fact that a circle has two sides, inside and outside!
What would be the correct way
Would you hold onto the railing each time you used the stairs?
Each time you held on to the railing
I’m so confused.
Either option is acceptable.
Please explain why “on to” is used rather than “to”. As we know, the players are not above.
The players make their way out on to the pitch.
“The players make their way out onto the pitch,” meaning that the players are making their way to a position on or upon the playing field.
Should it be ‘Book on to an open day’ or ‘book onto an open day’? (I was confident it should be the first version, but then started to waver!)
The word to seems unnecessary in your phrase. Depending on the duration of the activity being booked, we recommend writing “book on an open day” or simply “book an open day.”
“I will always hold onto you” “I will always hold on to you”. Not sure which is correct. Thanks for your help!
Because hold on is a two-word phrasal verb, write “I will always hold on to you.”
Thank you for reaffirming what I was sure I’d remembered from my early education (I’m 61). These days it seems the grammar rules that I learned are being tossed right out the window.
I’m currently analyzing a textbook for teaching English to students in Taiwan, and the book teaches that “hold onto” means “to hold someone or something firmly or carefully with one’s hands or arms.” The sample sentences are: 1. The child held onto the rope with all his strength. 2. Hold onto the balloon at the bottle neck, and pick up the heavy part of the balloon…”
I’m bookmarking your site!
Which is correct when typing a call log that will be forwarded to another department… “I advised her that I would forward this issue onto the manager.”
Or
“I advised her that I would forward this issue on to the manager.”
“on to”
Which is correct..The recital is over now on to/ onto nationals!
Thanks for your help
The correct choice is “on to.”
Thanks for all your help. Is this sentence correct: Thank you for bringing me onto your team?
We advise on to for two reasons: 1) onto is generally reserved for situations of physically being in a position on top of something else, and 2) bring (me) on would be considered a phrasal verb.
Is “hanging on” a phrasal verb?
Yes.
I held onto something or I held on to something?
Because held on is a two-word phrasal verb, write “I held on to something.”
How should this be written?
I come from a long line of strong inspiring women; my goal is to pass these values onto/ on to my daughter.
Onto is generally reserved for situations of physically being in a position on top of something else. Therefore, use on to. (Note also that a comma should follow strong. See Commas, Rule 2.)
Am I correct?
…and is ready to move on to the bigger southern peaks such as….
On to is correct in this context.
He grabbed onto/ on to the steering wheel. He was trying to hang onto/ on to the steering wheel.
Thank you,
On to is correct in both sentences.
writing a paper on business evolution & how simply making videos can be a lucrative business… The sentence reads: …as Fox Business has reported, simply publishing a video can generate significant revenue, even to the tune of six to seven figures, all by uploading a video {onto / on to} YouTube.com [paraphrased so its not a direct quote]
The word on is unnecessary in the sentence. We recommend writing “uploading a video to YouTube.com.”
Would this sentence take on to or onto?
He grabbed on to the armrests of the sofa.
On to is correct in this context.
Rule 2 and rule 3 contradict each other.
Rule 2 says to use ‘onto’ in the following sentences:
I’m onto your scheme.
We canceled Julia’s surprise party when we realized she was onto our plan.
And Rule 3 says to us ‘on to’ when ‘on’ is part of the verb. But ‘am’ and ‘was’ (in the sentences above) are forms of the verb ‘to be’. So shouldn’t ‘onto’ be treated as ‘on to’ in those sentences?
Rule 3 refers to phrasal verbs. The verbs am and was are state-of-being verbs. Phrasal verbs include action verbs such as caught on and log on.
Should this be “onto” or “on to”?
“I’m on to you. Don’t try to do anything,” the cop warned him. (Should this be “onto” ?)
Does this have the same meaning as Rule 2: Use onto when you mean “fully aware of,” “informed about” or does it mean “I’m watching you”?
Yes, Rule 2 applies here. Therefore, use onto.
Is it the ink is pressed onto or on to the paper?
The ink is pressed onto the paper.
If the ink penetrates the paper, the ink is pressed into the paper.
“passed their beliefs onto or on to their children”
” … passed their beliefs on to their children … “
I have a question please confirm this is correct.
“Two neighbouring Tube lines are to be partly suspended into a second day amid safety concerns of debris falling on to the tracks”.
We prefer using onto to describe something that is “on top of,” “to a position on,” or “upon.”
Would it be right?
He surfed onto the wave.
Yes.
Which is correct? Log onto our website. OR Log on to our website.
We recommend “log on” when it is used as a verb.
The driveway enters on this road and exits on to/onto the other road? Which one is it?
First, The driveway enters on … feels awkward to us. A couple of possibilities could be The driveway enters from this road and exits to [or onto] the other road. OR The driveway entry is from this road and the exit is to [or onto] the other road.
“The dispute about the summer 2018 is by virtue of the fact that Mr. Smith has already designated and wants to hold onto that designation and Ms. Smith either doesn’t like his designation and wants to hold onto her SPO 42 days.”
Regarding your sentence, we will focus our “help” on the use of on to vs. onto. The use of on to in both occurrences is correct.
Actually, I held onto that — my attorney in Florida held onto that check for a while, also.
And he told me, but no worries, because I hold onto it.
If you sign this, I’ll hold onto them.
I think each onto should all be two words: on to.
You are correct. hold on is a two-word phrasal verb; therefore, on to is correct.
Which is correct? Pass this request onto or on to?
Please see our reply to cath of January 9, 2014, and our response to Bench of September 11, 2014.
Jane opened the kitchen door and stepped on to the backyard patio. Thank you for your help with this one.
Rule 1 applies here; therefore, use onto.
I fell onto the floor, landing next to the plant.
or
I fell to the floor, landing next to the plant.
X collapsed to the floor, dead.
or
X collapsed onto the floor, dead.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Either option is grammatically correct in both cases.
I am writing a poem and need a little help please. Is onto correct? Thank you!
So now we’ll pen
Our final words
Onto these pages
Yes.
“The note goes from page 65 on to page 66.” Is this correct?
The word on is unnecessary in your sentence. It could also be written The note starts on page 65 and goes to (or ends on) page 66.
Do you recommend utilizing “on to” or “onto” to indicate a strong sense of possession? For example, the woman is holding her purse. In this instance, she has her hands on her purse. Thus, do you suggest writing, “She holds onto her purse,” or “She holds on to her purse.” Moreover, do you recommend writing, “Sarah, hold onto the reins,” or “Sarah, hold on to the reins.” In this instance, the character is holding the reins in her hand.
Thank you!
Hold on is a two-word phrasal verb; therefore, in accordance with Rule 3, on to is correct.
Do you recommend utilizing “onto” or “on to” when these words precede a verb such as “grab” or “cling”? For example, the frightened child clings (on to/onto) the rock. The floundering man grabs (on to/onto) the ledge.”
Thank you!
As per Rule 3 cited in the article, grab on and cling on are phrasal verbs, therefore use on to (also, “the frightened child clings to the rock” could also be acceptable). As another check, in accordance with Rule 1, your contexts do not mean “on top of,” “to a position on,” or “upon.” Therefore, onto would not apply.
Thank you for completely explaining it to me
Which one is correct? “Don’t try and impose your moral values on others.” or “Don’t try and impose your moral values onto others.”
The word to in your sentence is unnecessary as an addition to the preposition on. In formal writing, you would also want to adjust the phrasing “Don’t try and impose…” to “Don’t try to impose.” We therefore recommend writing “Don’t try to impose your moral values on others.”
I send emails to all employees with the following wording:
Please ensure this information is passed onto your employees without email access.
Is onto correct or should it be on to.
Thank you
Please see our replies to cath of January 9, 2014, to Bench of September 11, 2014, and to Dale Thomas of June 6, 2017.
Regarding onto or on to:
Can you please tell me if my use of onto or on to is correct in the following four sentences? Thank you very much.
The ego will latch onto anything that will make it feel special.
He has sneaky little ways of latching on to it.
Such freedom is something to be lived, not glommed onto.
The man latched on to any dumb-headed conspiracy he could find.
Dictionaries vary between “latch/glom on to” and “latch/glom onto.” Which version to use is a matter of writer style and preference.
Could you please clarify onto vs on to in the sentence below? Thanks.
“I have discharged her from our care and referred her onto the orthotics department.”
The word on is unnecessary in your sentence. We therefore recommend writing “I have discharged her from our care and referred her to the orthotics department.”
So I usually can get these if I think abstractly enough. I STILL couldn’t get it until I did 1 thing. I say the complete sentence, and instead of saying ONTO or ON TO I will just say ON. If the sentence makes perfect sense when only saying ON then using ONTO is the correct version. If the sentence doesn’t make sense with just ON, then it’s ON TO. I took the quiz below the examples with my trick and passed it!
Enter information on to or onto or into a form?
We recommend onto.
How about “I have finished that TV series; now on to the next series” and “The car flipped on to its roof”?
I have finished that TV series; now on to the next one.
The car flipped onto its roof.
A tv network has a tagline of “hold onto your butts.” I think this should be “hold on to your butts” but this rule as it’s written isn’t clear to me. Neither definition seems right. Can I get an opinion (a rule would be even better!) of what it should be? Thanks if you can help!
Since you cannot add up before on, and, considering the definition of onto in The American Heritage Dictionary of “on top of, to a position on, upon,” we agree with you that it should be “on to.”
Can you tell me why “Log on to Skype” is correct but “Turn onto South Boulevard” is also correct, when both “log” and “turn” are the verb tense? Thank you.
“Log on” is a phrasal verb. “Turn onto” is not. In addition to not being a phrasal verb, onto is generally reserved for situations of being physically “to a position on.” You can be physically onto South Boulevard. If we wrote “turn on to,” we would have a different meaning – e.g., “My brother turned me on to the Beatles when we were kids.”
See our posts Phrasal Verbs and Understanding Verb Particles.
The reason I came upon this page is the issue of the statement “We are onto you” in a New York Times article regarding the revealed Chinese secret police station in New York City, April 17, 2023. I say it should be “We are on to you” with the verb “are” being the operative, and in this case the “on” is part of the verb.
Since the federal agents were not physically “on” the perpetrators, “onto” meaning “fully aware of” is correct.
Which is correct — when “get on to” or “get onto” means “scold” or “condemn”?
He wasn’t trying to get on to her.
He wasn’t trying to get onto her.
PS – Love your grammar tips! Your clear explanations are always helpful for this medical and legal transcriptionist!
This British phrase is spelled “get onto.”
From looking through the other replies, I would assume that “He grabbed on to their arm” would be the right wording for the sentence?
I just want to check and make sure since I tend to mix things up easily.
Yes, your sentence is correct.
In Woe is I, the author uses the example “The responsibility shifted onto Milo’s shoulder.”
And cambridge.org’s page for “shift” uses:
Media attention has shifted recently onto environmental issues.
He tried to shift the blame onto his sister.
In that way, those who occupy veto points may be bought out, thereby allowing policy to be shifted onto a new path.
Are these the correct use of onto or should it be shifted on to? Because they don’t seem to follow Rule 1.
Thank You!
“Onto,” meaning “upon” or “to a position on,” appears to be correct in your examples (Rule 1). Using “shift on” would create a phrasal verb that might be found in a statement such as “shift on the industrial light switch” (with a meaning similar to “turn on” for a large light switch). The majority of uses of “shift” and “on” would likely appear with the verb and a prepositional phrase: e.g., shift on the track, shift on your position, shift on your feet.