A visual exploration of words that look the same, sound the same, or are otherwise easily confused. Updated weakly through 2016, now only occasionally. The book version "Homophones Visualized" is available wherever books are sold. Thanks for checking in!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Lightening & Lightning
WITH an e – becoming lighter.
WithOUT an e – that stuff that shoots out of the clouds and seems to have a grudge against trees.
I never would have thought of these two as homophones because they sound different enough in my mind. Though when I think about hearing them in the course of speech...well, I can hear the similarity.
Technically, lightning has two syllables and lightening has three. But, as you say, in the course of speech they're quite similar. And unfortunately I see "lightning" misspelled as "lightening" frequently. So, for me, it made the cut.
Lightning: The occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder. Lightening: A drop in the level of the uterus during the last weeks of pregnancy as the head of the fetus engages in the pelvis. Lighting: 1) Equipment in a home, workplace, studio, theater, or street for producing light. 2) The arrangement or effect of lights.
I never would have thought of these two as homophones because they sound different enough in my mind. Though when I think about hearing them in the course of speech...well, I can hear the similarity.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, lightning has two syllables and lightening has three. But, as you say, in the course of speech they're quite similar. And unfortunately I see "lightning" misspelled as "lightening" frequently. So, for me, it made the cut.
ReplyDeleteGoogle dictionary thinks differently.
ReplyDeleteLightning: The occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder.
Lightening: A drop in the level of the uterus during the last weeks of pregnancy as the head of the fetus engages in the pelvis.
Lighting: 1) Equipment in a home, workplace, studio, theater, or street for producing light. 2) The arrangement or effect of lights.
So what is correct?
I know, I'm constantly mixing up thunderstorms with uterine anatomy.
ReplyDelete