sighting

USAGE SUMMARY

'sighting' is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word to refer to the act of seeing something or someone. For example: I saw a rare bird during my morning walk and it was an amazing sighting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Their use in civilian areas could be a war crime.Sweden's navy launched a hunt for a possible Russian submarine after people reported sighting suspicious objects in waters near Stockholm.

The Economist

Sub-titled, "An Old Man, A Young Man and the Last Great Lesson", it celebrates the life wisdom of Morrie Schwartz, Mr Albom's college professor, whom he takes up with again after a chance sighting on late-night television, by when his one-time mentor is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease.In this section Displacement activity?

The Economist

The arrival of a rare one is a little like a visit from a movie star: in Hollywood a sighting barely interrupts the slurping of a milk-shake; in Sheffield it would stop traffic.A whole subculture that of the twitcher, as the most dedicated birdwatchers are known, to the annoyance of some of them—has grown up around these celebrity appearances.

The Economist

But these genes are old, rather than young.In this section How rocks evolve First sighting Eating carbon Bad old genes Light revival ReprintsDr Domazet-Loso and Dr Tautz used an approach called phylostratigraphy.

The Economist

(Belzoni, on first sighting him, thought he smiled "at the thought of being taken to England").

The Economist

Sighting Giacomo Balla along a corridor lifts the spirits.

The Economist

It is also where neurons that control breathing are located.In this section How rocks evolve First sighting Eating carbon Bad old genes Light revival ReprintsThe partial injury (there are no ventilators for rats, so the researchers could not completely sever the cord without killing them) allowed only one side of the diaphragm to work and the rats had trouble breathing.

The Economist

Some say these are the tastiest in town, though others say they would cost around half the bobs if you did not have hopes of sighting Candace Bushnell while eating them.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

When I uttered (17), I claimed that the proposition in 18(b) was true of Bear Sighting.

SEP

Suppose the actual bear in Bear Sighting is in fact a black bear, and not a grizzly.

SEP

Bear Sighting has a particular bear in it, the bear we see.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sighting" to describe the act of seeing something, especially when it's rare, unexpected, or significant. For example, a "sighting" of a rare bird or a celebrity.

Common error

Avoid using "sighting" when you mean "site", which refers to a location or place. "Sighting" refers to the act of seeing something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sighting" is a noun, referring to the act of seeing something, especially something notable. Ludwig provides examples in which "sighting" is used to describe seeing a rare bird or a potential Russian submarine.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "sighting" functions primarily as a noun denoting the act of seeing something, frequently used to describe noteworthy or unexpected visual encounters. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, highlighting its prevalence in news and media contexts. While "sighting" is appropriate for describing a wide array of occurrences, be careful to distinguish it from "site", which is a physical location. Related terms include "observation", "spotting", and "detection", each with subtle nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spotting

Suggests a quick or chance discovery, similar to "sighting" but often implies a hidden or elusive object.

observation

Emphasizes a more deliberate or scientific act of noticing, compared to a casual "sighting".

glimpse

Suggests a brief or incomplete view, different from a clear or prolonged "sighting".

detection

Implies a more technical or investigative process of finding something, rather than a simple visual encounter.

witnessing

Suggests being present and observing an event, often with legal or moral implications beyond a mere "sighting".

recognition

Implies identifying something familiar, as opposed to a first-time "sighting".

discovery

Implies finding something previously unknown or hidden, differing from simply seeing something already known.

visualisation

Focuses on the mental representation or imaging of something, differing from the physical act of seeing.

perception

Focuses on the interpretation and understanding of what is seen, rather than the act of seeing itself.

appearance

Focuses on the act of coming into view or existence rather than the act of observation itself.

FAQs

How can I use "sighting" in a sentence?

You can use "sighting" to describe the act of seeing something, especially something rare or searched for. For example: "There was a recent "sighting" of a rare bird in the park."

What words are similar to "sighting"?

Similar words include "observation", "spotting", or "detection", depending on the context.

Is "sighting" a noun or a verb?

"Sighting" is primarily used as a noun, referring to the act of seeing. It can also be the present participle of the verb 'sight'.

What's the difference between "sighting" and "site"?

"Sighting" refers to the act of seeing something, while "site" refers to a location or place. For example, a construction "site" is different from a UFO "sighting".