What’s the Proper Way to Spell It? Lightening vs Lightning?

We come across loads of English words that sound the same way and have similar spelling. However, using them can be quite confusing. Do they have the same meaning, and what’s the proper way to spell them? This confusion applies to the words “lightening” and “lightning.” So, what is the proper way to go?

“Lightening” comes from the word “lighten” and means to make something less heavy or dark. You use “lightening” when you want to convey this meaning either as a verb, noun, adjective, or adverb. In contrast, “lightning” is always a noun that refers to the visible electrical discharge in the sky.

Still, we have merely scratched the surface of what you need to know. In this article, we will dive deeper and examine all you need to know. This way, you find it easier more than ever to know the difference and use both words.

When to and How to Use the Word “Lightening”

We will first dive into the use of the word “lightening” in a sentence. However, to fully grasp the word’s usage, you need to understand what meaning the word conveys. This is even more important since the difference between using the word “lightening” and “lightning” depends largely on the meaning of each word.

So, what meaning does the word “lightening” convey?

The word “lightening” comes from the root word “lighten.” Now, to understand the meaning of the word “lightening,” it is necessary to understand the meaning of the word “lighten.”

Now, when it comes to the root word “lighten,” you can use it in two senses. The first sense that you can use the word “lighten” is concerning the color of something. Secondly, you can use it to convey making something’s weight lighter.

It is from this that the word “lightening” derives its meaning. One thing you must keep in mind is that while the word “lighten” is a verb, “lightening” can function in different ways. It can function as a verb, adjective, adverb, and even a noun in a sentence.

So, how do you use the word “lightening” in a sentence?

Precisely, you can use the word “lightening” when you want to change something’s color and appearance. It can also convey that something has lighter color. As we already stated above, the word can function as more than a verb. It can function as a noun to describe something, as an adverb to modify a verb, and as an adjective to modify a noun.

Now, here are some examples that will help you understand the use of the word.

1. Over the years, I have realized that nothing adds quite the lightening effect that a mirror adds to a house; it is just splendid.
2. While some companies continue to promote skin-lightening products with great efforts, I do not recommend it to any of my clients.
3. I think I should talk to Jean and talk to her about stopping lightening her skin; she looks the best in her natural state.
4. One of the advantages of using a black background is that there is no lightening that distracts the overall beauty of the drawing.

Now, when it comes to the second sense in which you can use the word, it concerns something’s weight and making it lighter. However, keep in mind that this can be both literal and figurative.

When it is literal, it means lightening something with actual weight. On the other hand, it involves lightening something without a physical weight but figuratively heavy based on the circumstances when it comes to its symbolic use.

Like we stated above, remember that the word “lightening,” although a derivative of the verb “lighten,” does not only function as a verb. It can also function as a noun, adverb, and adjective.

Once you have this in mind, you can use it to convey, reducing the weight of something, whether physically or figuratively. Or that something has a reduced weight, depending on the meaning you intend to convey in a sentence.

Now, we will dive into some examples that will help you understand the word’s usage in both senses. First, here are some examples of the use of this word in the literal sense.

1. I have got to thank Tyler for lightening the weight of the table for me by holding the other end.
2. Please try lightening the bag; I am not sure you should carry this many clothes and shoes for two days visit.
3. Lightening the frame is perhaps the most impressive thing I did this year because by making it less heavy, I got people to buy more.
4. One of the health benefits of losing weight is the lightening of knee load that you would have otherwise suffered from.

Now, here are some examples of the use of this word in the figurative sense.

1. I have a thing for those who spend their time lightening others mood with their jokes; they are true givers.
2. The atmosphere was so dull and sour that we wished Chris was around to provide us with his lightening jokes.
3. She did a great job lightening the burden of the troop by providing a pinpoint location of those they needed to get to.
4. Tyler is the most likely the most preferred son because he spends his time lightening his grandfather’s responsibility.

When to and How to Use the Word “Lightning”

So far, we have clarified the meaning and use of the word “lightening.” Now, we will move to when and how to use the word “lightning.” Generally, the confusion arises from the fact that they sound the same and have almost the same spelling.

Yet are they the same? Well, they do not convey the same meaning. When it comes to the word “lightning,” it concerns the electrical discharge that occurs when an electrical storm occurs. Even if you have not seen it physically, you must have seen it in loads of movies where something like a white or blue light comes from the sky and hits the surface.

However, lightning can happen between more than one cloud and in one cloud. What identifies lightning is the electrical surge and discharge that comes with it. It is related to what we call thunderstorms.

Like you can guess, unlike the word “lightening,” the word “lightning” is a noun. It names a thing rather than function as a verb. As such, when it comes to using the word, you should utilize it as a noun when describing an electrical discharge. Remember, the word “lightning” always works as a noun in a sentence and does not have a distinct plural form.

Now, here are some examples that should bring more clarity to the use of this word.

1. Visiting my mother’s town came to its difficulty as not only did everywhere look spooky, I also had to contend with the frequent bouts of lightning that made things more discouraging.
2. The professor speaks with so much sparkle and joy when explaining the electromagnetic waves that arise when lightning hits.
3. Although the lightning we got was impressive if not devastating, the rain that came with it was nothing to write home about.
4. There is a popular saying that wherever you see lightning, you are sure to get thunder.

Understanding the Difference

It is quite common for people to use the word “lightening” and “lightning” interchangeably. It is common for people to use the word “lightening” when they mean “lightning” and vice versa. This is why understanding the difference is important. This way, you can use the right spelling to convey your intention.

So far, we have explained both words’ meaning and when to use them in a sentence. Still, we have to be honest that remembering the difference can be quite confusing, more so the similarities in their spelling.

So, how do you remember the differences?

Well, all you need to do is keep their root word in mind. When it comes to “lightening,” the source word is “lighten.” On the other hand, when it comes to “lightning,” the root word is “light.”

Lighten means to make something less heavy or dark. So, when you want to pass this message across, use the word that comes with “lighten” as its root word. In contrast, “light” is akin to electricity. So, when to convey something about an electrical discharge, use the word with “light” as its root word.

Final Thoughts

While both words might have appeared confusing before, there is no doubt that things are clearer now. So, while you might have been wondering about the proper way to spell between both words, it is clear that both spellings are correct.

However, the spelling you opt for will depend on the message you want to pass on in a sentence. So, if you want to pass the message of something less dark or heavy, remember to use the word “lightening.” On the other hand, if you want to convey the visible light in the sky, you use the word “lightning.”

As long as you follow these rules, you can be sure you are using the words appropriately.