Which to use
“log” is a noun and “lol” is an intj - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,826
- “log” frequency rank
- #948
- “lol” frequency rank
- 4774
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | log | lol |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The trunk of a dead tree, cleared of branches. | Alternative form of LOL. |
Where the eye mixes log and lol
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 2 letters in sequence.
Look-alike desk: log vs lol
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: log is /lɒɡ/ while lol is /ɛl.əʊˈɛl/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by a single letter - g in “log” becomes l in “lol”, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs intj), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 4774, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
log is recorded at frequency rank #3,826, classified as anoun, pronounced /lɒɡ/. lol is at rank #948, tagged as anintj, pronounced /ɛl.əʊˈɛl/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 4774, this pair ranks #517,731 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of log vs lol
Shared letters: lo. Private to "log": g. Private to "lol": -.
"log" · 3 letters · shape CVC · "lol" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "log" for "lol" ever safe?
In ordinary English text, does "log" or "lol" show up more?
Useful next steps
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "log" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "lol" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #517,731 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "log" and "lol" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "log vs LSC". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #517,731 of 530,003 scored English pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.