Login vs. Log In: Which Is Grammatically Correct?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Login vs. Log In: Which Is Grammatically Correct?
With everything happening online these days, there are a lot of email and password combinations floating around. But IT professionals aren’t the only ones left scratching their heads sometimes: Confusion about tech-related language can lead to questions and issues of grammar and spelling as well.
In today’s post, we’ll examine the difference between login and log in. That way you can know the meaning of each and when to use them with accuracy.
The Difference Between Login and Log In
We should start by pointing out that login and log in mean different things. Either one can be right depending on the usage and context, but neither is correct all the time.
When spelled as a single word, login serves as a noun. It refers to the details you use to gain access to something restricted. For example, you might click on the login on your bank’s website home page.
In some situations, the single-word version, login, can also be used as an adjective. For instance, you might talk about the login page for your favorite social media profile. Login modifies page by further describing the sentence subject.
When spelled as two separate words, log in functions as a verb (action word). It can mean “to take the action of signing in to something” or “to record the receipt of an object.”
Let’s look at an example:
I want to purchase tickets for the concert, but I need to log in to my account first.
Because log in is expressed as a verb, you need the two-word version.
Applying login and log in accurately, you would use your login details to log in to a website. The single-word version refers to information, and the two-word version refers to the action.
Pop Quiz
Fill in each blank with the correct use of login or log in.
1. I had to call customer support because I forgot my _____ information.
2. If you change your name, you’ll be assigned a new _____.
3. Can you help me _____ to my new email account?
4. You shouldn’t allow others to use your _____ for paid streaming services.
5. It’s important to _____ any textbooks returned from graduating students.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. I had to call customer support because I forgot my login
2. If you change your name, you’ll be assigned a new login.
3. Can you help me log in to my new email account?
4. You shouldn’t allow others to use your login for paid streaming services.
5. It’s important to log in any textbooks returned from graduating students.
Find More Grammar Guidance and Tips on Our Site
Now you know the difference between login and log in, you can continue your mastery of American English with more useful grammar tips and advice. Browse our article archive and also watch for new grammar content we post every week. We’re here to help you become an even more precise and eloquent communicator. You can also ask a question or suggest a topic in the comments below!
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
At the local college in the computer lab, there are instructions to “sign-in here.” It’s not quite the same as login vs. log in but it is a similar idea. If you are instructing someone to sign in, it is a verb. If it is functioning as the place where you sign in, it’s a noun, correct? So the button on the screen could correctly say “sign-in” meaning “sign-in location.” If it’s an adjective, it can also be hyphenated “Go to the sign-in screen.”
The dictionaries we consulted do not acknowledge “sign-in” as a noun. “Sign in” is a phrasal verb, and “sign-in” is a compound adjective when used before a noun. We assume the instructions meant either “Sign in here,” or “This is the sign-in location.”
Thanks, this was ruining my immersion when using computers. Now you’ve cleared that up for me, I’m able to log in using my login details without my OCD being triggered.