The June 8 and 15, 2009 edition of The New Yorker magazine has a great example of something I pointed out several weeks ago--the difference between "into" and "in to." The New Yorker quotes a headline from the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune:
"ECONOMIC SLUMP HAS MORE OWNERS TURNING PETS INTO SHELTER"
This headline conjures up some weird images--a dog being used as a tent? A cat sitting on its owner's head to keep it out of the rain? Maybe a pet elephant letting its owner string a hammock between its thick legs?
When you turn something INTO something else, it becomes that thing, as in turning a wild rabbit INTO a household pet.
When you turn something IN TO something else, you give it to that something else, as in turning your pet IN TO the animal shelter because you can no longer care for it.
I hope your pets are still with you and definitely NOT being turned INTO something else!
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