Writing for Business - A Whatis.com Blog

May 18 2012   1:31PM GMT

Do you login or log in?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
compound words, one word or two

Which is correct?

Your Apple ID is the user name you use to _____ to iCloud, iTunes and the app store.

a. log in

b. login

Answer: a

Explanation:

The general rule is that the verb phrase is two words while the noun or adjective form is the single compound word. So you log in to something — as long as you can remember your login info.

Here’s a list from The Chipmunk of Doom. Ignore at your own peril.

Verb form is the first example in each case:

  • set up vs. setup
  • make up vs. makeup
  • work out vs. workout
  • pick up vs. pickup
  • get up vs. getup
  • turn out vs. turnout
  • log in vs. login
  • turn over vs. turnover

See more examples and explanation here.

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