Answer: Lightening vs. Lightning

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

"Lightening" and "lightning" are commonly confused homophones (words that sound the same). Here is the difference between them, with examples from Due South and Stargate: SG-1.

lightening: is the participle (adjective), or the gerund (noun), or--with a form of "to be"--the progressive tense (verb) form of "to lighten," referring to making lighter, whether in--
- color (The smell of peroxide from the bathroom told Fraser that Ray was lightening his hair.),
- brightness (The lightening room told Jack the time before his alarm clock did.),
- mood (One of those Jaffa jokes was always good for lightening the mood. Or not.), or
- weight (With one dog injured, Fraser knew that lightening the sled would be necessary.)


lightning: is a noun or adjective referring to the flash seen in an electrical storm--
- literally, the meteorological phenomenon (If lightning struck the Stargate, they could be stranded.), or
- metaphorically to something as fast and/or bright as a lightning bolt (Ray flashed one of his lightning smiles that seemed to be only for Fraser.)

A hint to remember the spelling: If your "lightening/lightning" refers to the electrical flash or to the speed of something, it's too fast to take time for that extra e.