Login vs. Log in – How to Use Each Correctly

Login vs. Log in – What’s the Gist?

Technology has changed our vocabulary and these two words reflect that change. Which word you use is based on its function in the sentence.

  • Login functions as a noun.
  • Log in is a verb phrase.

Essentially, these words represent the same idea. One is the act, and the other is the action.


login versus log in

How to Use Login in a Sentence

Login definition: As a noun, login refers to the username or password that permits a person access to the computer system.

For example:

  • The login to the computer system is changed every 30 days for security. (Noun)
  • Because he works remotely, his can use his login to access the anywhere. (Noun)
  • To access the bank account, the login starts with the client’s username and password. (Noun)

As with many words that have both a noun and verb function, often the distinguishing element in this word pairing is noticing which syllable is stressed. The first syllable is stressed in the noun: \lawg in\.

How to Use Log in in a Sentence

Log in definition: Log in (or more commonly log on) means to establish communication and initiate interaction with a computer or system.

For example:

  • The first thing the employee did when she got to work was to log in to the employer’s computer system. (Infinitive)
  • He logged in to his social media accounts to connect with his friends. (Past Tense Verb)
  • The teacher will log in the school’s system to input her grades. (Future Tense Verb)

With the verb, the second word in the phrase is stressed: \lawg in\.

Outside Examples of Login vs. Log in

  • Behind Door No. 1: That familiar username box and a never-ending hamster wheel of reused passwords and reset emails. Door No. 2: A quick login accompanied by a lifetime supply of intrusive ads. Door No. 3? A more private way in. Just be warned—for now, Door No. 3 is hard to find. –The Wall Street Journal
  • Most people can’t remember the login details for the dozens of online services they use, so many people end up using the same password — or some variation of one — everywhere. If you are one of those people, this means that if just one site on which you use your password gets hacked, someone could gain access to all your accounts. –The New York Times
  • “The IT system goes down. You can’t log in your time or expenses, or your training or your regular work,” said Stephan Patterson, a census taker from Palmer, roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. –Houston Chronicle
  • The email instructed me to log in to my Amazon account “and follow the steps.” –The Star-Ledger

Phrases That Use Login and Log in

There are several phrases that are variants of the verb phrase log in, including:

Log on: A synonym of the term log in.

  • The student logged on to the school’s system to gain access to his grade.

Log off: To depart from a conversation.

  • After the long phone conversation, the mom said, “I need to log off.”

Log out: To exit from a computer or system.

  • The dad told his daughter to log out from whatever she was doing and go to bed.

How to Remember These Words

The distinguishing idea between this pairing is the functionality in a sentence.

Saying the term that you think you want out loud may help. If you find yourself emphasizing the first syllable, it’s likely that you want the noun. If you are emphasizing the second word in the phrase, you probably want the verb.

For example:

  • Because the system was down, the login took a long time.
  • He was asked to log in when the system was back online.

Quiz: Login or Log in

  • The student was looking for his _________ to register for classes.
  • After _______, the client paid his credit card.
  • The _______ was sluggish due to bandwidth throttling.
  • He _______ every day to his social media accounts.

Article Summary

Is login or log in correct? With the advent of the Computer Age, the language adapted by adding new vocabulary. This word pairing reveals that expansion in the lexicography.

Furthermore, the hesitancy of which one to use is probably based on the fact they these terms look nearly alike. To choose correctly, ask yourself: Do you need the act or the action? If it is the act, pick the noun login. If it is the action, choose the verb log in.

  • Login is the noun.
  • Log in is the verb phrase.

Quiz Answers

  • Login
  • Logging in
  • Login
  • Logs in