day 112: lightning vs lightening

Another Wacky Word pair for you!

With all of the storms in the US over the past month, I have seen my share of lightning/lightening used incorrectly. So, let's get it right before the next bout of bad weather! :)

Lightning

1. This is the electricity in the sky!

2. It's light + ning

Lightening

1. This is when something is lightened or made lighter.

2. It comes from the base word lighten--This will lighten my load.

3. Lighten+ing

If you think of the base word of each, you will not mistaken them for each other so easily--light (for lightning) and lighten (for lightening).

I hope the amount of lightning (and thunder and tornadoes!) starts to lighten (lessen) soon!