he preposition in generally refers to being inside something: Adam stood alone in the elevator.

The preposition into generally means movement toward the inside of something: Adam walked into the elevator.

But as discussed in the usage notes below, the meanings of in and into sometimes overlap.

Examples:

• After waiting in the hallway for twenty minutes, I finally stepped into the manager's office.
• On her way back from Detroit, Lee ran into a snowstorm and took a wrong turn in Flint.

• The number-one way of getting your parents' attention is getting into trouble in school.
• "Not only is there a distinct symbolism in the designs woven into the basket, but in some cases the basket itself is a symbol." (George Wharton James)

Usage Notes:

• "We generally use in and on to talk about the positions of things--where they are; and intoand onto to talk about directions and destinations--where things are going. Compare:

  - A moment later the ball was in in the goal.
  The ball rolled slowly into the goal. . . .
  
  - She's in the bedroom getting dressed.
  She ran into the room carrying a paper. . . .
  
  - She was walking in the garden
  Then she walked into the house.
  
  - The cat's on the roof.
  How does it get onto the roof?