firing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "firing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to terminating someone's employment or in discussions about discharging a weapon. Example: "After several warnings, the company decided that firing was the only option left for the underperforming employee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Within five minutes Laszlo Kiss was allowed to trap a ball from a corner and turn eight yards from the Salvadoran goal before firing past Mora to make it 6-1.

The Guardian - Sport

Eighteen of them were either guillotined or shot by firing squad during this period.

The Guardian

Most employment discrimination statutes outlaw adverse employment actions – they bar employers from hiring, firing or otherwise disadvantaging workers on the basis of one's race, sex or religion.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it has refused to budge on two "red-line" demands – for pension cuts and looser rules on hiring and firing – and hopes of reaching an agreement in time for a meeting of the finance ministers on Monday have gradually seeped away.

The Guardian - Business

On July 13, Qatar's resolution, condemning the Israeli military assaults on Gaza and the Palestinian groups' firing of rockets at Israel and abduction of its soldiers, secured 10 votes with four abstentions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Gary Warren was the only one back in the Inverness defence when Griffiths raced on to a pass by Brown and he did not do very much at all to stop the Celtic striker firing a drive from 25 yards low past Brill and into the far corner of the net.

The Guardian - Sport

The disturbing footage appears to show an officer first discharging a Taser and then three officers chasing Zambrano-Montes across the road before firing.

The Guardian

Hiles would happily renew the deal, "but if in three years' time they are digging up half the area and flames are firing from the taps, we'd obviously think again," he jokes.

The Guardian

In a speech in Manchester hosted by the IPPR North thinktank, John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: "If we can get the UK's regions and nations firing on all cylinders, the prize could be enormous".

The Guardian

Whichever Goliath from the Paisley dynasty chose to stand in North Antrim at next year's general election, Allister said he would be there firing off his verbal slingshots in an effort to fell the giant.

The Guardian

Per Mertersacker gets back to tackle and prevent the Algerian from firing a shot off from the edge of the penalty area.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "firing" in the context of employment, ensure the sentence clearly indicates whether you are referring to the act of terminating someone or the policy related to it. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "firing" when "fire" is the correct verb form. "Firing" is the present participle or gerund, while "fire" is the base verb. For example, use "The company will fire the employee" instead of "The company will firing the employee".

Linguistic Context

The word "firing" functions primarily as a verb in its present participle form, indicating an ongoing action, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "firing past Mora". It also serves as a noun, denoting the act of discharging a weapon or terminating employment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "firing" is a versatile term with two primary meanings: discharging a weapon or terminating employment. Ludwig AI confirms that "firing" is grammatically sound and common in written English. It is most frequently used in News & Media and Sports contexts. When using "firing", be mindful of the specific context to avoid ambiguity, particularly between its literal and figurative uses. Alternative phrases like "dismissal" or "shooting" can provide greater clarity depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discharge

Focuses on the act of releasing a projectile or substance, similar to one aspect of "firing".

dismissal

Specifically refers to the act of terminating someone's employment, mirroring another meaning of "firing".

axing

A more informal term for dismissal or termination of employment.

releasing

Highlights the action of letting something go, which can be related to the release of a projectile or the termination of a job.

terminating

Formally indicates ending something, often employment or a process.

ejecting

Implies forcing something out, akin to expelling a bullet or an employee.

triggering

Emphasizes initiating an action, linking to the release aspect of "firing".

expelling

Similar to ejecting, but often used in more formal contexts, such as expelling a student.

igniting

Focuses on the start of a fire or a process, similar to one meaning of "firing".

launching

Suggests sending something into motion, similar to the projection aspect of "firing".

FAQs

How to use "firing" in a sentence?

"Firing" can be used as a verb (present participle of fire) or as a noun. For example, "They are "firing" the employee" (verb) or "The "firing" of the employee was controversial" (noun).

What can I say instead of "firing" (employment termination)?

You can use alternatives like "dismissal", "termination", or "layoff" depending on the specific context and reason for the job ending.

What can I say instead of "firing" (shooting a weapon)?

Alternatives include "shooting", "discharging", or "releasing a weapon, depending on the specific action and type of weapon.

Is "firing" always negative?

While often associated with negative situations like job loss or warfare, "firing" itself is not inherently negative. It simply describes the action of discharging something. For example, "firing up" a crowd can be a positive thing.