Login vs. Log in – Which one is right?

By clicking on this article, you must want to know which one is correct.

I’ve been writing procedures and technical documents for over two decades. And yet, I still see this written incorrectly in various documents.

Does that mean that one’s right and the other wrong? Well, yes!

Let’s break down what each one means to get to the answer. We’ll start by looking at log in.

Log In

What is a log?

One definition might be a large limb or part of the trunk of a tree. Well, we know that’s not what the writer of the document is referring to.

No one is going to put a part of a tree into their computer. Unless of course, they’re furious with it and that seems to be the corrective action of choice.

The word log could also refer to a logbook, which is a repository of information that has been entered or logged. Typically, these are used in the transportation industry to record trip data.

But when we use the two-word phrase “log in” we’re referring to the act of entering identifiable data. As in imputing a username and/or password into something that requires access credentials.

One might convey this by writing, “Log in to your account.”

Therefore, “log in” is the action of logging in.

Login

On the other hand, as a single word “login” serves as a noun. In other words, it refers to your credentials themselves.

But login could also be used as an adjective. If you’re referring to the screen that requires your credentials, you might call it the “login page.”

Hence, to use the word “login” you’re either referring to the credentials themselves or the page in which you’d log in.

To help us better understand, we could write it like this, “Log in to the site with your login credentials.”

In the end, both ways are correct when used correctly.

Hope this helps.

I’m not an affiliate of the site or anything. But, when writing procedures and business documents, one of my go-to sites is GrammarBook.com. Just wanted to pass along this great resource.