Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style

by Benjamin Dreyer

7. There’s a world of difference between going into the water (an action generally accompanied by flailing and shrieking and other merriment) and going in the water (an action generally accompanied by staring abstractedly into the distance, and, no, you’re not fooling anyone), and it’s a difference to be honored. Into = movement. In = presence. The same applies to, say, “jumping into a lake” (transferring from pier to water) and “jumping in a lake” (in the water already and propelling oneself vertically upward), but the vernacular being what it is, no one will object to the traditional dismissal “Aww go jump in a lake.” 8. There is a world of difference between turning in to a driveway, which is a natural thing to do with one’s car, and turning into a driveway, which is a Merlyn trick.