Go into means to start working in a particular field (go into medicine) or to discuss something in detail (go into detail). The first meaning is about choosing a career; the second is about a conversation, a talk or a piece of writing.
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go into + teaching/politics/business; go into detail(s) about + topic; go into + the reasons/problem
- After university, she went into teaching instead of joining her father's company.
- I won't go into details, but the trip was a complete disaster.
- The report doesn't go into the reasons behind the price rise.
What changed
First versionAfter university, my brother went to politics.
RevisionAfter university, my brother went into politics.
By analogy with went to university, it's tempting to say went to politics. But to points to a place you go to. For a field of work, you need into: go into politics, go into business, go into teaching.
Look into also has into, but it means 'to investigate, find out': The manager promised to look into the complaint. Go into means to talk about something in detail: I'd rather not go into it now, meaning I don't want to discuss the details right now.
Your turn
I don't want to ___ detail now, but the meeting with the client went badly.
Show the answer
go into — Giving details about something is go into detail. Go in means 'to enter', and in detail is a separate phrase used with other verbs: explain something in detail. You can't mix the two.
Write about someone you know who chose an unexpected career. Name the field they went into and what they did before.
My cousin worked as a lawyer for five years, then went into the restaurant business and opened a small café.
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