Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Institutional Links

 

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

divide in, divide into, divide in half, divide in two

Except for such phrases as divide in half and divide in two, the preposition into is used because divide emphasizes separating, breaking up or cutting up a whole into sections or parts, changing the state or form of something. When half and two are used as adjectives, the correct phrasal verb is divide into.

  • The math teacher divided the apple in two.
  • The math teacher divided the apple into two parts.
  • Mother divided the pile of toys in half.
  • The team’s activities were divided into half days.
  • Shall we divide the project into six or seven small tasks?
  • Nunavut was created by dividing the Northwest Territories into two parts (or in two).