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I read this post: I'm wondering about the difference between "change into" and "change to" but I still don't get the rule in case of "changing name of file" or in case of programmers "changing class name".

On the one hand the name may be something different and in this case I need to use "to". On the other hand the file is still the same. The only thing that changes - its name. In this case I see that more suitable is "into".

Also if I change file name from "Test1" to/into "Test2" I don't change name completely, I change it partially. Should I use "into" then?

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  • changing name of file/=not idiomatic in English at all/ Commented Feb 26 at 15:51
  • In your example you doesn't change "Test1" into "Test2". "Test1" is still same. If you had another file with same name it would remain. Commented Feb 27 at 9:57
  • I agree with astralbee in the general case (you must use to not into in "I changed my name from James to Jim") but for programming variables and files, I think you could say either "I changed variable_name to/into variableName" Commented Feb 27 at 18:26
  • @Kaia if there's a choice, I think to use more general form (to) would be preferable then) Commented Feb 28 at 15:02
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    @talex [you don't change: don't] Commented Feb 28 at 16:06

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Generally speaking, we use "change to" when switching from one thing to another:

  • My old car ran on petrol, then I changed to an electric.
  • The red traffic light changed to green.
  • I hope to change to a new job soon.

We use "changed into" if we are getting 'in' something ie clothing. It is also used for complete metamorphosis from one thing to another:

  • I took off my work clothes and changed into something more comfortable
  • The caterpillar changed into a beautiful butterfly
  • Water changes into ice when frozen.

For your example of changing a filename we would use "to", because you're changing the name from one thing to another. It isn't becoming a new thing.

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  • You can also use "to" for metamorphosis, but as you said, we don't use "into" for replacement. Commented Feb 26 at 15:51
  • @barmar okay there might be a few cases where either can be used, but one is used less frequently like you said (this is why I opened with "generally speaking"). But I'm struggling to think of any examples where "in" sounds right for a complete, irreversible metamorphosis. Can you give me an example? Commented Feb 26 at 16:31
  • "water changes to ice" sounds idiomatic to me. Commented Feb 26 at 16:33
  • @Barmar We might quibble about whether changes in state of matter count as "metamorphosis." But I would agree that "An evil witch hath transformed me to a frog" might be encountered, but more likely in older sources. E.g. "For she changed me to the laily worm, / That lies at the fit o the tree, / And my sister Masery / To the machrel of the sea (youtu.be/86PzZUP_QEI?t=1274) Commented Feb 26 at 17:30
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I would (unusually) disagree with Astralbee"s answer.

"Changed into" implies a literal change "The caterpillar changed into a butterfly"

"Change into" is something that transforms the nature of a thing. It's not the same thing, it's something else. You're bitten by a zombie and now you're changed into a different creature.

"Change" is less dramatic, it alters an aspect of the thing, but it's still the same thing underneath - change colour,change name, change address.

You change clothes (doesn't affect what you are) but changing into (a set of clothes) is sorti of a proxy for how your appearance has changed. You're not actually different but you might appear to be a different individual.

In context: renaming a file, I'd consider a change. Completely refactoring a class so it's now based on a different base and works fundamentally differentlty is more of a "change into" something else. (Though woyld probably still just called refactoring in a dev context)

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    "Change to" is used for non-essential things like "I changed to a different brand of toothpaste" but "I changed into a bitter old man". I think changing clothes is a bit of a special case. Commented Feb 27 at 23:15

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