Cool MateHitting vs Striking
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hitting
Top 2,000 (common)
Striking
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
| Hitting | Striking | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhɪtɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈhɪtɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Striking something with force. | Very noticeable or impressive. |
| Example | The child was caught hitting the ball with a bat. | a striking feature |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | hitting the target, hitting the brakes, hitting a home run, hitting the ground running, hitting each other | be, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, in |
| Antonyms | missing, avoiding, ignoring | unremarkable, ordinary, dull |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hit' as the base form., Used incorrectly in passive voice structures., Overusing in contexts where a softer term like 'tapping' would be better. | Confused with 'strikes' as in hitting something., Using 'striking' to describe something common or boring., Not understanding it can refer to people as well as objects. |
| Usage notes | Use 'hitting' in both physical and metaphorical contexts. Avoid in formal writing unless describing sports or physical actions. | Use 'striking' to describe something that catches attention due to its beauty, uniqueness, or size. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hitting vs Striking
What's the difference between Hitting and Striking?
Hitting: Striking something with force. Striking: Very noticeable or impressive.
Can you show an example of each?
Hitting: The child was caught hitting the ball with a bat. Striking: a striking feature
Can I use Hitting and Striking interchangeably?
Not always. Hitting and Striking are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.