Login or Log in – How to Use Each Correctly

What’s the Difference Between Login and Log In?

Contents

1 What’s the Difference Between Login and Log In?
2 Using Login in a Sentence
3 Using Log In in a Sentence
4 Remembering Login vs. Log in
5 Outside Examples
6 Quiz: Log in vs. Login
7 Article Summary

Login and log in can be especially confusing to people because they have the same meaning, yet they are different parts of speech. Therefore, they can never be used interchangeably.

Login is a noun or adjective. As a noun, it means a username and password to enter a computer, program, or website. As an adjective, it describes the screen or page in which a person will enter the computer, program, or website.

I can’t access my email. I can’t get past the login page. (adjective form)

Log in is the verb form. It means to enter a computer, program, or website.

To enter the data, you must first log in to the program.

The most common mistake is adding a space where it doesn’t belong for the noun and adjective forms, and deleting the space where it is necessary for the verb form.

Let’s look at some of the ways to use these words in English.

Using Login in a Sentence

When to use login: Login can be either an adjective or noun and refers to the username and password that is necessary to get access to data on a computer or other electronic device.

For example:

I’m locked out of my computer because I forgot my login information (adjective form)
You’re hired. Come in on Monday and our IT department will give you your login for your office computer. (noun form)

Using Log In in a Sentence

When to use log in: Log in is a phrasal verb, and it means to enter information such as a username and password to gain access, usually digital access.

For example:

For some students who had never used a computer before, even logging in was a difficult ordeal.
Some of the older employees had difficulty adapting to all-digital communications, and often forgot how to log in to their emails.

There are no notable expressions or idioms with login. However, common collocations include logging in to email, a computer, or an account.

Remembering Login vs. Log in

One way to help you remember when to use log in is to compare it to other phrasal verbs, such as turn on, go up, or put on.

Just as you cannot put log in together, you cannot put other phrasal verbs together. This would mess up the process for conjugation. For example, I turned on the light is correct, whereas I turnoned the light is incorrect. Likewise, I logged in is correct, whereas I loginned is incorrect.

Remembering that conjugation for phrasal verbs requires two separate words can help you keep log in and login straight.

Outside Examples

A group of people login to an UNU online forum through their smartphones or computers. –USA Today
Hackers have gained access to OneLogin, an online password manager that offers a single sign-on to multiple websites and services. –LA times
At the end of June, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security sent a joint alert to the energy sector stating that “advanced, persistent threat actors” – a euphemism for sophisticated foreign hackers – were stealing network log-in and password information to gain a foothold in company networks. –Chicago Tribune
Once an employee has the chip voluntarily installed, he or she can purchase food in the break room, open doors and log into computers.–CNBC

Quiz: Log in vs. Login

Instructions: select the correct word to appear in the blank, either log in or login.

Please navigate to the _____________ page.
You can’t ____________ without a password.
I don’t have my _______________ information.

See answers below.

Article Summary

Should I use login or log in? Despite having similar meanings, these two words are different parts of speech. Therefore, you mustn’t use one in place of the other because it will cause grammatical errors.

Login can be either a noun or adjective, and is a username and password that gives a user access to material.
Log in is a verb, and is the process of entering the personal information (such as a username and password) necessary for access to information.

Although some people and reputable organizations use these terms interchangeably, for the moment, it is best to only use login as a noun or adjective, and only use log in as a verb.

Answers