"Logging into" or "Logging in to"

W

Whitedogg

Member
Bulgaria, Sofia
Bulgarian Bulgaria
Hello,

What is the correct way to write the following phrase?

Melissa requested assistance logging into her account on hotmail.com.

Melissa requested assistance logging in to her account on hotmail.com.

Is there a semantic difference, or is one of these phrases incorrect?

Thank you in advance!
 
    • For me:

    Logging in to = e.g to enter your username and password etc

    Logging into = [tenously but conceivably] To begin extracting logs from a particular area.

    However, in your context, there would be no questions as to the meaning. But I prefer your first example for the context you have described.

    Similarly, I prefer:

    To log in (v)
    A login (n)
     
    With no real basis except instinct, I would say:

    A: Have you opened the e-mail yet?
    B: No, I'm logging into the computer.

    A: How long are you going to be on the computer?
    B: I'm only logging in to check my email, so it won't be long.
     
    I agree... hte two previous posters have made an important distinction.

    To log into something (account, computer)
    but
    To log in [in order] to do something (i.e in order to check email, see bank balance)
     
    nzfauna said:
    I agree... hte two previous posters have made an important distinction.

    To log into something (account, computer)
    but
    To log in [in order] to do something (i.e in order to check email, see bank balance)
    Click to expand...

    I completely disagree. "into" is for transitional states, for turning logging into recording, for instance. you log in to an account, and you log in to do things there.
    when I get confused, I replace the verb and noun with something less virtual, like "you run in to an office" though the office could turn into a Starbucks.

    <    << ----------- See Rule#11 ----------- >>>
     
    Last edited by a moderator:
    Welcome to the forums, davidicus!

    I'm afraid I don't understand your comment:(
     
    I hate to respond to a three-year-old thread that is one of many on the subject and seemingly settled, but neither do I understand what you're trying to say.

    I hope you're not saying that running "into an office" is incorrect. See the dictionary definition of into

    Please note that in English, we capitalize the first letter in each sentence as well as the personal pronoun ' I.'
     
    The Microsoft Manual of Style (3rd Ed.) says to not use login or log in. The prefered verb form is log on or log on to, and log off or log off from. The noun and adjective forms are logon and logoff.
     
    davidicus said:
    I completely disagree. "into" is for transitional states, for turning logging into recording, for instance. you log in to an account, and you log in to do things there.
    when I get confused, I replace the verb and noun with something less virtual, like "you run in to an office" though the office could turn into a Starbucks.

    <    << ----------- See Rule#11 ----------- >>>
    Click to expand...

    What you are missing is that "logging into" an account, *IS* describing the transition of states: the state of being logged in, and the state of being logged out.
     
    There is a simple distinction that needs to be made.

    Running is the verb. Running into works for this reason.
    In this case, logging is not the verb. The action that is being described specifically is logging in. Following the word logging with into changes the meaning entirely.

    Hence, the correct form would be logging in to her account.
     
    Hmmm...

    There is a distinction in the function of "in" in
    1. I logged in to my account, in which log in is a phrasal verb with "in" as an adverb. To is the preposition whose object is "my account".
    2. I logged the data in my book. Here, "in" is a preposition whose object is "my book."

    However, over the years in to (adv. + prep.) has become joined to form one word, and now is a preposition of motion and change. (Compare onto and upto). However, it can still be found as separate words in "I put the key in to open the door" in which a single adverb or preposition would not work.
     
    You are right, and logging data in a book and logging in to an account are two very different things.

    The relatively modern verb logging in did originate with the idea of computers keeping an access log; however, like signing in, its use is now entirely distinct.
    When you sign in or out of a computer terminal, you are not signing per se.

    Treating the in as a mere adverb that can be combined with the preposition to detracts from the distinct meaning of the verb logging in and shifts the emphasis to the verb logging, which I would argue is wrong.
     
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