How to teach the difference between “login” and “log in”, and other mind-bogglingly important compound words

1. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
One word or two?
How to teach the difference between “login” and “log in”,
and other mind-bogglingly important compound words

2. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
login | log in
logout | log out
signup | sign up
backup | back up
setup | set up
shutdown | shut down
The thot plickensThe thot plickens
workout | work out
sleepover | sleep over

3. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Show, don’t tell

4. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
An experiment
Don’t try this at home - unless your partner is in a good mood

5. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Say in your head or softly out loud
What are your llllllll details?
Where can I llllllll to the bank’s website?
My llllllll failed.

6. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Say in your head or softly out loud
What is your bbbbbbb strategy?
When did you last bbbbbbb your data?
When did you last do a bbbbbbb?

7. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Notice the stress pattern
What are your login details?
Where can I log in to the bank’s website?
My login failed.

8. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Notice the stress pattern and the one/two-word choice
What is your backup strategy?
When did you last back up your data?
When did you last do a backup?

9. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
That’s a way to teach ‘em
But what’s the theory behind it?

10. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Nouns and qualifiers
Your backup failed.
I’m going to a sleepover.
Good workout today!
Click the logout button.
Go to the signup page.
The thot plickensThe rules
Verbs
Back up your data.
Want to sleep over tonight?
I work out every day!
Log out [button text].
Learn how to sign up.

11. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
What about hyphens?

12. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
What about hyphens?
‘-‘
a weigh-in
a shoo-in
the hurry-up offence

13. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Who says?

14. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
Style guides and commentaries
Guardian and Observer Style Guide
Apple Style Guide
Log in vs. login by Grammarist
English Language and Usage Stack Exchange - note the cool fix!
loginisnotaverb.com

15. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
A word in parting

16. Sarah Maddox | sarahmaddox@
A technical writer and an engineer
walkin to a bar