“Log out” is the phrasal verb for ending a connection to a computer system. “Logout” is the noun for that act or process, and Cambridge also documents “log-out” as a noun variant. The word boundary follows grammatical role.
ReviewedEvidence2 sourcesSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use “log out” for the verb. Use “logout” for the noun; Cambridge also records the hyphenated noun variant “log-out.”
Key details
Confusion Familyword-boundary
Noun Variant Scopeclosed logout and hyphenated log-out are documented noun forms
Rule Familyorthographic-boundary
Termslogout, log-out, log out
Choose the right form
Decision table for Logout vs. Log Out
If you mean / need
Use
Why
to end a connection to a computer system
log out
It is the phrasal verb.
the act or process as a noun
logout / log-out
Both noun spellings are documented.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the open form for the action and a noun spelling for the act or process.
Fast Test
If you can say “logged out” or “logging out,” use the two-word verb.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge records both “logout” and “log-out” as noun spellings, so this is not a universal closed-versus-hyphenated correctness rule.
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.
Standard English writes “a lot” as two words for a large amount, number, frequency, or degree. “Alot” is a common misspelling in this sense; it should not be confused with the separate verb “allot.”
“Blackout” is the closed noun, while “black out” is the two-word phrasal verb. The verb can describe losing consciousness or obscuring/darkening something; the noun names the resulting event or state.
“Blowout” is a closed noun for several events or results, and Cambridge also records “blow-out” as a noun variant. “Blow out” is the two-word phrasal verb, including the sense of extinguishing a flame.
“Breakout” is a closed noun for an escape and an adjective in several established senses. Cambridge also documents “break-out” in modifier use. “Break out” is the two-word phrasal verb for meanings such as beginning suddenly or escaping.
“Breakthrough” is a closed noun for an important discovery or advance and can also modify a following noun. “Break through” is the two-word phrasal verb for forcing or moving through a barrier or threshold.
“Build up” is the two-word phrasal verb. For the noun, Cambridge records hyphenated “build-up,” while its American dictionary also records closed “buildup.” The noun spelling therefore has a documented regional/style variant rather than one universal form.
