Logged-in, Logged in, Log-ined, Login-ed, or Logined?

When you log into a website, how do you say that you are “logged in?” Is it as simple as that? Do you need a hyphen? Is it spelled differently entirely?

In this post, we will be discussing the right way to say that you are logged into a website.

Logged-in, Logged in, Log-ined, Login-ed, or Logined?

The correct option here is “logged in”. That’s because “log in” is the verb used in this situation, while “login” is a noun (as in, your login). There is no past tense of a noun, and the past tense of the verb “log in” would be “logged in”.

logged in

This might seem like a small distinction, but it’s very important to know the difference between “log in” and “login”, as that will inform the rest of this discussion. Even though the difference is just one space, that one space changes the context of the words.

A “login” is a noun. Your “login” would be you username and password combination. Your “login” allows you to “log in” to a website. “Log in” is the verb, the actual action of entering a website using your “login”, the noun. Only one of these can be put into past tense, because only one is a verb.

In this case, the proper past tense is just “logged in”. You don’t add an –ed to “in” because that’s just a preposition that is part of the verb phrase. You also don’t put –ed on the end of “login”, because that’s a noun and cannot be past tense in the first place. Consider the difference in these examples:

  • I cannot remember my login for this website.
  • With my username and password, I can log in to this website.

That one space between “log” and “in” makes all the difference. This must be kept in mind to understand why “logged in” is the correct spelling to be used in the past tense.

Logged-in

A hyphen can be used in “logged in”, but it is not strictly necessary. The main place to use a hyphen is when you are using “logged in” as an adjective instead of a verb. If you are talking about the action of logging in, a hyphen is not necessary.

But if you are saying that someone is logged in, you could describe them as “logged-in” with a hyphen. Here are some examples of the differing context in action:

  • He logged into the school mainframe without any trouble.

In this sentence, “logged in” is a verb.

  • Here is a list of the currently logged-in users.

In this sentence, “logged-in” is an adjective for “users”. In this case, a hyphen would be used.

Logged in

“Logged in” is the correct past tense spelling of the verb “log in”. If you are ever meaning to say that someone has or is logged into something, this is the proper spelling. None of the other options we are going to discuss are correct.

The only exception is “logged-in”, with a hyphen. However, that spelling is only used if “logged in” is being used as an adjective to describe someone, and not as a past tense verb. Whenever you are using it as a verb, the correct past tense would be “logged in”, as in the following examples:

  • Simon logged in to the website without difficulty.
  • You should have logged in already.

Log-ined

This would be a completely incorrect way of writing “log in” in the past tense.

It should never be used and would considered absolutely incorrect English in any context whatsoever. That includes both grammar and spelling.

Login-ed

“Login-ed” is incorrect in both spelling and grammar and should never be used under any circumstances.

There is no context in which this spelling would ever be appropriate. The only correct spellings are “logged in” and “logged-in”.

Logined

“Logined” is incorrect, because it is attempting to turn the noun “login” into past tense, even though nouns do not have tense.

When you are saying that someone has “logged in” to something, you are trying to create the past tense of “log in”, the verb, not “login”, the noun.

This is why “logined” is incorrect. It should not be used under any circumstances.

Log-in-ed

This is just wrong. Never use it, ever. To start with, “log in” does not need a hyphen in it. Secondly, you cannot make the preposition “in” past tense. There is no tense when it comes to prepositions, only the verb those prepositions are attached to.

Finally, even if you could turn “in” into a past tense form, you do not turn words into past tense with a hyphen. You just add –ed to the end of it.

Conclusion

When attempting to turn “log in” into past tense, you say “logged in”. That is because all of the other spellings mentioned in this article are either an attempt at turning the noun “login” into past tense or considering “logged-in” as an adjective.

If you want to spell the past tense of “log in”, the correct spelling is “logged in”.