LoginTo vs. In Order To
'To' and 'in order to' are widely used, but you may confuse their interchangeability and their differences.
What Is Their Main Difference?
The main difference between 'to' and 'in order to' is that 'in order to' is more formal than 'to.'
Expressing Purpose
'To' and 'in order to' are used to show and express the purpose of actions. Have a look:
We use this device
We use this device
Cause and Effect
We can use 'in order to' and 'to' to show the cause of something or the effects of an action or event. Have a look:
She studied hard
She studied hard
To make the sentence negative, we can add 'not' to 'in order to' or 'to.' In this case, we generally use 'in order to.' Have a look:
She studied hard not
She studied hard
At the Beginning of the Sentence
We can use both 'in order to' and 'to' at the beginning of the sentence as well. For example:
Are They Interchangeable?
'To' can always replace 'in order to.' 'In order to' however, cannot always replace 'to.' This is because expressing purpose is not the only function of 'to.' 'To' can be used as a preposition of movement and direction to show movement from one place to another, as an identifier for 'relationships' and 'attachments.' You can replace 'to' with 'in order to' only when we are expressing purpose. Have a look:
Karen is married in order to John.
Here, we cannot use 'in order to' instead of 'to' as 'to' is identifying a relationship.
He moved in order to another apartment
Here, we cannot use 'in order to' instead of 'to' because 'to' is showing movement from place to another.
He works full-time
Here, 'to' and 'in order to' are interchangeable because they both express purpose of the subject.
Tip!
As mentioned earlier, 'in order to' is more formal than 'to,' and its usage is avoided.
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