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Like the author, I frequently get hung up on which of "log in", "sign in", or any of their variants is 'more correct' every time I put together software with us

Like the author, I frequently get hung up on which of "log in", "sign in", or any of their variants is 'more correct' every time I put together software with users. "Authenticate" might be the most correct verb, although it's not very user friendly?

m12k 12y ago
Personally I prefer "log in" to "sign in" because it makes it stand out more from "sign up", thus hopefully leading to fewer users accidentally selecting one when they wanted the other. And regarding the variations, I've always been under the impression that "log in" is the act of logging in, while "login" is either the situation/event ("a login happened") or an alternative term for username.
- jeffbr13 12y ago
  You're right that "log in" is more distinct from "sign up" (and works because "logging up" doesn't make much sense), and I definitely agree with you that 'login' is a noun, if anything! Both "log in" and "sign in" are anachronisms though - they're justified when you're actually signing-in-and-out of a computer system or building to log your visit, but the metaphor doesn't technically make as much sense when you're talking about authenticating the user on a website. The evolution of the terms does let you nicely abstract away the actual mechanism of authentication for a user, which I suppose is the point.
  - userbinator 12y ago
    > to log your visit That is what many systems will do when you "log in", so to me that makes the most sense.
- xentronium 12y ago
  Actually, some people like consistency of sign up / sign in / sign out actions.
johnchristopher 12y ago
Would "connect" work too ?
billmalarky 12y ago
I have the same struggle. I'm actually glad I read this since now I can just go with "sign in" and know that it is at least objectively the most used and therefore likely to be most understood by users.
jodrellblank 12y ago
I mostly get hung up on "why doesn't this stupid software support Single Sign On, it's 2014, why am I typing my current credentials into a web page that's either running on the same computer, or running on the local network, which is also going to inappropriately lock or kick me out after NN minutes of inactivity".
- jeffbr13 12y ago
  Touché
rowyourboat 12y ago
As a non-native English speaker, I prefer “log in” to “sign in” as “sign in” is very similar to “sign up” which some sites use instead of “register”. The difference between “sign in” and “sign up” is subtle and requires me to consciously think. Use "log in" and "register". Don't make me think.

m12k 12y ago

Personally I prefer "log in" to "sign in" because it makes it stand out more from "sign up", thus hopefully leading to fewer users accidentally selecting one when they wanted the other. And regarding the variations, I've always been under the impression that "log in" is the act of logging in, while "login" is either the situation/event ("a login happened") or an alternative term for username.

jeffbr13 12y ago
You're right that "log in" is more distinct from "sign up" (and works because "logging up" doesn't make much sense), and I definitely agree with you that 'login' is a noun, if anything! Both "log in" and "sign in" are anachronisms though - they're justified when you're actually signing-in-and-out of a computer system or building to log your visit, but the metaphor doesn't technically make as much sense when you're talking about authenticating the user on a website. The evolution of the terms does let you nicely abstract away the actual mechanism of authentication for a user, which I suppose is the point.
- userbinator 12y ago
  > to log your visit That is what many systems will do when you "log in", so to me that makes the most sense.
xentronium 12y ago
Actually, some people like consistency of sign up / sign in / sign out actions.

johnchristopher 12y ago

Would "connect" work too ?

billmalarky 12y ago

I have the same struggle. I'm actually glad I read this since now I can just go with "sign in" and know that it is at least objectively the most used and therefore likely to be most understood by users.

jodrellblank 12y ago

I mostly get hung up on "why doesn't this stupid software support Single Sign On, it's 2014, why am I typing my current credentials into a web page that's either running on the same computer, or running on the local network, which is also going to inappropriately lock or kick me out after NN minutes of inactivity".

jeffbr13 12y ago
Touché

rowyourboat 12y ago

As a non-native English speaker, I prefer “log in” to “sign in” as “sign in” is very similar to “sign up” which some sites use instead of “register”. The difference between “sign in” and “sign up” is subtle and requires me to consciously think. Use "log in" and "register". Don't make me think.