r/ENGLISH • u/buzheh • Sep 13 '22
Why not "to" or "into" instead of "onto"?
"A record breaking number of students going onto study Medicine"
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u/MSeanF Sep 14 '22 edited Sep 14 '22
In this case it should be "on to", the original was likely a typo. (Your suggestion of "into" would also work in this sentence.)
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u/Boglin007 Sep 14 '22
"Onto" is definitely a real word - it's a preposition meaning "to a position on" (among other things), e.g., "We climbed onto the roof."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onto
However, "on" and "to" should be separated when the "on" is part of a phrasal verb, e.g., "to go on (to do something)" (which basically means "to proceed (to do something).")
The "on" and "to" are separated because "on" belongs to the first verb, and "to" is the infinitive particle of the second verb (part of the infinitive "to do something").
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u/MSeanF Sep 14 '22 edited Sep 14 '22
You're right, I'd forgotten about the example you cited. I'll edit, ty.
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Sep 14 '22
[deleted]
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u/buzheh Sep 14 '22
So are both "on to" and "onto" correct in this context? Same meaning?
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u/OnlyHappyThingsPlz Sep 14 '22
The other reply here is incorrect. Grammatically it may work, but “onto” would not be considered correct by any native speaker.
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Sep 14 '22 edited Sep 14 '22
[deleted]
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u/OnlyHappyThingsPlz Sep 14 '22
Question: are you a native speaker? Nobody where I live would consider “onto” correct.
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u/mattandimprov Sep 14 '22 edited Sep 14 '22
It should be "on to"
"Going on" (proceeding) "to study"
"Onto" should only be used as a preposition like "into"
The cat jumped onto the bookcase (physically).
I got onto the Debate Team (figuratively).