into onto

[bieasy]

Hi,

Is it: "I got onto the bus." Or "I got into the bus." And why?

[David L.]

A person gets 'on a bus'.
'into' has the sense of being 'inside and surrounded, enclosed inside something'
This might seem just what happens when one boards a bus.
However, the first trains and buses were not the fully enclosed vehicles they are today, and would have open sides, and the top deck might not have a roof. So 'getting on' this 'platform on wheels' seemed appropriate at the time...and has just continued as the expression till today.

[bieasy]

A person gets 'on a bus'.
'into' has the sense of being 'inside and surrounded, enclosed inside something'
This might seem just what happens when one boards a bus.
However, the first trains and buses were not the fully enclosed vehicles they are today, and would have open sides, and the top deck might not have a roof. So 'getting on' this 'platform on wheels' seemed appropriate at the time...and has just continued as the expression till today.

Thank you! But I thought it was about any means of "spacious" transportation. What about flying saucer? It's in a closed space, isn't it? Shouldn't it be "I got onto the flying saucer"? Same for spaceship. And what about submarine? And car? Isn't it "I got into the car"?

[Anglika]

In many ways it comes down to whether the vehicle is public transport [train, bus, tram, trolleybus, boat/ship - including submarines, aircraft] which we board = get onto, or private transport [car, flying saucers, dogcart] which we enter = get into.

[bieasy]

In many ways it comes down to whether the vehicle is public transport [train, bus, tram, trolleybus, boat/ship - including submarines, aircraft] which we board = get onto, or private transport [car, flying saucers, dogcart] which we enter = get into.

Thank you.