One of the most common errors that I come across when reviewing documentation for developers is a conflation between the following words/phrases:

• setup/set up
• backup/back up
• login/log in
• cleanup/clean up

It’s pretty simple to remember the difference and it looks far more professional if you’re able to get it right.

Nouns/Adjectives

The following are nouns or adjectives:

• setup
• backup
• login
• cleanup

A noun is a word used for a person, place, thing, object etc. So the following sentences would be correct:

• Have you configured the setup?
• The backups were stored on the server.

An adjective is a word for describing something else:

• The setup process was ready to go.
• Go to the login screen.
• He needed their cleanup services.

Verbs

• set up
• back up
• log in
• clean up

Verbs convey an action. To any of the above list you could append “to” – “to set up”, “to back up”.

Here’s how you would use the phrases:

• To set up your website, go to the admin screen.
• You should back up your website every day.
• Please log in to get access to support.
• He decided it was time to clean up his desktop.

If you want to go crazy you can use them both in the same sentence:

• Proceed to the setup screen to set up your website.
• When you back up your website, you should store your backups safely.
• Go to the login screen to log in.
• You might need some cleanup services to clean up that hacked site.

Hopefully now I’ll never see another misuse of “setup” again. *cough*