sacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "sacking" is correct and usable in written English.
"Sacking" is a verb meaning to dismiss someone from their job or to rob or pillage something. You can use it in sentences when discussing the dismissal of someone from their employment or figuratively discussing the plundering of something. For example, "The company took the difficult decision of sacking the entire staff of the sales department."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another source of discord was the return, as a Palace employee, of Iain Moody, whose sacking as Cardiff's head of recruitment brought to a head the fallout between Malky Mackay and Vincent Tan to a head.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Alastair Cook hits out at ECB for sacking him as England's one-day captain Now, with the intention to shore up English cricket following a chastening World Cup campaign – and gain revenge for a 1-0 defeat suffered on their last trip to the Caribbean in 2009 – the selectors have once more turned to the experienced right-hander, with the first Test starting in Antigua on 13 April.

The Guardian - Sport

Wilson talked often of sacking Longford, so when he resigned from government in January 1968 over the abandonment of a commitment to raising the school-leaving age, it was a matter of jumping before being pushed.

The Guardian

Today he set about paying for those priorities – £500m for a cybersecurity programme – by scrapping cold war tanks, planes and ships, sacking 17,000 military personnel and – less conspicuously – 25,000 civilian staff.

The Guardian - Opinion

Alexander is widely reported to have been responsible for sacking Graf.

The Guardian - Opinion

She was a tough and striking character, and I got on perfectly all right with her, but I became aware that Ted Heath was thinking of sacking her.

The Guardian

And then buy a copy of Dark Trade by Donald McRae. 1) Did sacking Arthur for Lehmann help Australia in the Ashes?

The Guardian - Sport

After sacking soccer reporter Scott McIntyre on Sunday morning because of his comments about Anzac Day, SBS appears to have acted equally swiftly to replace him.

The Guardian

However, when things take a downturn, instead of opting for the gamble of a mid-season sacking or ending up at the mercy of a predictable end-of-term managerial merry-go-round, maybe a bit of increased effort in support from the club's side wouldn't go amiss?

The Guardian - Sport

We were all aghast that Ted was thinking of sacking the only woman in the cabinet.

The Guardian

Then he instilled some own-brand stability: sacking and unsacking Brian McDermott inside 24 hours; pledging not to sack Dave Hockaday ("It's too simple to sack him. If I fire anyone, I should fire myself, or else I'm a coward.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and tone when using "sacking"; in formal contexts, "termination of employment" or "dismissal" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "sacking" interchangeably with "laying off" or "downsizing". "Sacking" often implies misconduct or poor performance, whereas layoffs and downsizing suggest economic reasons for job termination.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sacking" is as a gerund or present participle, often acting as a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. For example, "Another source of discord was the return, as a Palace employee, of Iain Moody, whose "sacking" as Cardiff's head of recruitment brought to a head the fallout between Malky Mackay and Vincent Tan to a head."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sacking" is a versatile term primarily used to denote job termination, but also carrying a historical meaning related to plunder. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, predominantly in news and media contexts. While "sacking" is a common term, it's important to consider the audience and choose a more formal alternative like "dismissal" or "termination" when appropriate. Understanding the connotations and contexts in which "sacking" is used ensures clear and effective communication. Remember to differentiate "sacking" from similar terms like "laying off", which implies different circumstances for job loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dismissing

Focuses specifically on the act of removing someone from a position or job.

firing

A more direct and often abrupt way to describe job termination.

termination of employment

A formal and legalistic term for ending someone's job.

job termination

Similar to 'termination of employment' but slightly less formal.

laying off

Suggests a reduction in workforce, often for economic reasons.

downsizing

Implies a strategic reduction in the size of a company.

making redundant

Commonly used in British English to indicate that a job is no longer necessary.

giving the axe

An idiomatic expression for firing someone, implying a harsh action.

force out

Suggests that someone was compelled or pressured to leave their job.

discharging

Often used in military or formal contexts to indicate release or removal from duty.

FAQs

How to use "sacking" in a sentence?

You can use "sacking" to describe the act of dismissing someone from a job, as in "The manager announced the "dismissing" of several employees". It can also refer to plundering a place, though this usage is less common.

What can I say instead of "sacking"?

You can use alternatives like "firing", "dismissal", or "termination" depending on the context and level of formality.

Which is correct, "sacking" or "dismissing"?

"Sacking" and "dismissing" are both correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Sacking" often implies a more abrupt or negative termination, while "dismissing" can be more neutral. "Dismissing" is generally perceived as more formal.

What's the difference between "sacking" and "laying off"?

"Sacking" typically refers to termination due to poor performance or misconduct, whereas "laying off" usually indicates a reduction in workforce for economic reasons unrelated to individual performance.