does one say, "it was lightning", or "it was lightnining"???

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If you're referring to the weather phenomenon, it's spelled lightning.  And unless you're responding to the question "What was that bright flash?", you would say "Lightning was striking," or something similar.  

Lightning in this sense is not a gerund.  It's a noun.

If you're referring to making something lighter, it's spelled "lightening."

Anonymous · Answer

Oh...my God, I can't even believe you have to ask this.  LOOK AT THE WORDS.  Say "lightning."  Now, say "lightnining."  Which one of those is an actual word?  There's your answer.

Anonymous · Answer

I've never heard anyone say "lightnining"... I've heard "lightening", but that'd be in correct usage if you meant "lightning".

Goat · Answer

Lightning, lightnining would be like saying "we went fishining"

Anonymous · Answer

The first is gramatically correct.

Mardy · Answer

it was lightning

momof8 · Answer

the correct wording is " it was Lightening"

curious~me · Answer

"It was lightning".

does one say, "it was lightning", or "it was lightnining"???

8 Answers