Login vs. Log In
“Log in” is the phrasal verb for connecting to a computer system. “Login” is a noun for the credentials, act, or access point, and Cambridge also documents “log-in” as a noun spelling. The verb remains two words.
Use “log in” for the verb. Use “login” for the noun; Cambridge also records the hyphenated noun variant “log-in.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| verb/action | log in | Use the two-word verb. |
| noun/credential or access event | login | Use the common closed noun; house style may also allow “log-in.” |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Can the expression be inflected as “logged in” or “logging in”?
If yes: Use the two-word verb “log in.”
If no: Use the noun form “login” (or documented house-style variant “log-in”).
Caveat: Cambridge records more than one noun spelling, so closed versus hyphenated noun choice may be a house-style matter.
Examples
Log in with your email address.
The expression is a verb.
Your login has expired.
The closed form functions as a noun.
She logged in before the meeting.
The inflected form confirms the verb.
Further guidance
Core difference
The action is “log in”; the noun is commonly “login,” with “log-in” also documented.
Fast Test
If you can say “logged in” or “logging in,” you are using the two-word verb.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge records “login” and “log-in” as noun forms, so house style may choose between documented noun spellings.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- LOGIN — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Noun meanings and documented “log-in” variant for “login”
- LOG IN — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Phrasal verb “log in” for connecting to a computer system