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Keeping it together: why "in tact" falls apart

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 15/10/2024, 02:50
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

In tact or intact. What's correct?

Spelling error

Why do people make this mistake?

The phrase "in tact" is a common misspelling due to phonetic similarity with the correct form "intact". People often believe it to be two separate words because "in" and "tact" are both valid English words and could create a plausible phrase.

What is correct?

The correct term is "intact", which is a single word used as an adjective meaning "undamaged" or "whole".

Examples of correct usage

  • The vase remained intact despite the earthquake.
  • All original documents were intact after the fire.
  • The castle has remained intact for centuries.

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