Lightening or Lightning?

Our Story

Lightening or Lightning?

What is the difference between "lightening" and "lightning"?

"Lightening" means to make something lighter (in color/colour or weight).
  • I'm lightening the bathroom with the leftover white paint.
"Lightning" is the flash of light followed by thunder during a storm.
  • Did you see that fork of lightning?
lightening or lightning
Got it? Take a quick test.

More about Lightening and Lightning

Writers are often confused between "lightening" and "lightning" due to their similar sounds and spellings.

Lightening

The word "lightening" comes from the verb "to lighten." It means to make something paler in color () / colour () or to reduce something in weight.

Examples:
  • I had to throw away my dress after my failed attempt at lightening it.
  • Lightening the sacks will help us move the corn more quickly.
You will also see "lightening" being used figuratively. For example:
  • Making jokes is my brother's way of lightening the mood.
(Note: "Lightening" is the present participle of the verb "to lighten.")

Lightning

The noun "lightning" is often seen in the term "thunder and lightning." In other words, "lightning" denotes a flash of light caused by the discharge of electricity in the atmosphere.

Examples:
  • Thunder is good. Thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work. (Writer Mark Twain)
  • Electricity is really just organized lightning. (Comedian George Carlin)
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are nouns? Jewelry and jewellery List of easily confused words