Turn "in to" or "into" a lonely lane?

Question

I have a sentence I'm writing where I describe making a turn, as I run, into an empty alleyway. Here is how I would like to say it:

I turn into a lonely lane...

The problem I find is that it may mean that I am changing my direction to run into a lane, or it may suggest that I am becoming a lane -- however unlikely that may be, realistically.

Is there a better way to write the sentence without disrupting the flow of my writing? (I understand that I can say, "I make a turn into a lonely lane..." but am afraid that that might cause some incontinuity.)

For example, could I say this?

I turn in to a lonely lane...

JackArbiter · Answer

It being a street you would probably want to say "I turn onto a lonely lane." You would say onto rather than into regardless of confusion, whether you are walking or driving, as a street is something one walks on.

I can't find a good reference to back me, but here are people who agree: random Internet link of questionable usefulness

If you actually use "alley" instead of lane you could use into and it wouldn't seem as confusing (see comments).

Erik Kowal · Answer

One possible solution is to avoid both in to and into by substituting the equally idiomatic down:

I turn down a lonely lane.

Greybeard · Answer

I have a sentence I'm writing where I describe making a turn, as I run, into an empty alleyway. Here is how I would like to say it:
I turn into a lonely lane...

1.Depending upon the context, in is an adverb or a preposition of place. In is almost synonymous with inside or within
He turned [his car] in(prep.) a lonely lane = He was in a lonely lane (place) and he turned [his car] around.
The magician turned the prince in to the police – to turn (someone or something) in(adv.) -> phrasal verb = to surrender. (informal.)
2.Into is one word and a preposition of motion or change of state.
He turned [his car] into a lonely lane = He was on one road and he drove so as to enter (motion) a lonely lane.
The magician turned (changed) the prince into a frog. - the state of the prince was "human" and then his state changed to be a frog.
NB. English and English speakers/writers are not consistent: "into" is often shortened to "in" and, where there is no doubt about the context, this is not considered to be wrong.
"Put the sugar in the jar." should be "Put the sugar into the jar." because there is motion involved in moving the sugar from where it is now to the jar.

Turn "in to" or "into" a lonely lane?

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