viewing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "viewing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of looking at something, such as "viewing the exhibit" or "viewing the paintings at the gallery". For example, "I enjoyed viewing the artwork at the museum".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Almost all of the sightseers said they had pre-booked flights which they were unable to change; many had resigned themselves to a trip to Washington consisting of shopping and viewing buildings from the outside.

The Guardian

I can save some of those programs to a hard disk or a dedicated external device for later viewing at home.

The Guardian - Opinion

That said, it's hard to imagine something so scabrous winning the approval of the Mercury judges, whose vision of music that represents Britain appears to be based on viewing Britain as a place where people drink designer beers in chic bars, not cans of lager on sagging sofas.

The Guardian - Music

There was no humanity in his reasoning, viewing, as he did, the dead Indigenous Australians purely as "material".

The Guardian

Without viewing a house you'll have no idea on its suitability, whether the landlord describes it accurately, what facilities are close by, or the transport links.

The Guardian

Lisitsa has a huge online following, and her YouTube videos have viewing figures in the millions.

The Guardian

Families of some of the men killed on Friday told the Associated Press that after viewing the remains of their loved ones, they doubted the official account.

The Guardian

As Television X puts it: "Why watch ordinary people viewing regular TV when you can watch randy people watch adult TV!" Why indeed.

The Guardian

It was contract negotiations rather than viewing figures that did for David Milch's masterful western drama about the citizens of an 1800s prospecting town.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Certainly customers do enjoy the binge viewing aspect but I don't think it is the be all and end all," said Bird.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I believe online content, whether viewed through a connected TV or through a tablet, will support traditional viewing by allowing new audiences to be developed, new specialist interest groups to be reached and new catch-up opportunities to be offered.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "viewing" when you want to emphasize the act of watching or looking, especially in contexts related to media, real estate, or abstract consideration. For example, "the viewing figures for the new series were impressive" or "the viewing of the property is scheduled for next week".

Common error

Avoid using "viewing" when a simpler term like "seeing" or "looking" suffices. Overusing "viewing" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted in casual contexts. For instance, instead of saying "I'm viewing the sunset", opt for "I'm watching the sunset".

Linguistic Context

The term "viewing" primarily functions as a gerund or present participle, acting as a noun or adjective. It describes the action of seeing or watching something, often with a deliberate or focused intent. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

15%

TV & Radio

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "viewing" functions as a versatile term, primarily used as a gerund or present participle to describe the act of seeing or watching something. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and broad applicability make it suitable for diverse contexts, although its formality should be considered. Its frequent occurrence in news and media underscores its relevance in reporting and analytical discussions. When choosing "viewing", consider if simpler alternatives like "seeing" or "watching" might be more appropriate for casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

watching

Focuses specifically on observing something over a period of time.

observing

Emphasizes a more careful and attentive form of seeing.

seeing

A more general term for perceiving with the eyes.

looking at

Highlights the direction of one's gaze towards something.

regarding

Implies consideration or thinking about something.

considering

Focuses on the mental process of evaluating something.

inspecting

Suggests a detailed and thorough examination.

scrutinizing

Emphasizes a critical and highly detailed form of examination.

perusing

Implies reading or examining something casually or quickly.

glancing at

Refers to a quick or brief look.

FAQs

How can I use "viewing" in a sentence?

"Viewing" can be used to describe the act of watching something, like "the viewing of the film was a great experience", or to refer to an appointment to see a property, like "we have a viewing scheduled for Tuesday".

What's the difference between "seeing" and "viewing"?

"Seeing" is a general term for perceiving with your eyes. "Viewing" often implies a deliberate or focused act of watching, or a scheduled appointment to look at something specific.

What are some alternatives to "viewing" a property?

Instead of "viewing a property", you could say "inspecting the property", "touring the house", or "looking at the apartment".

When is it appropriate to use "viewing figures"?

"Viewing figures" is appropriate when discussing the number of people who watched a TV show, film, or online content. It refers to audience metrics and ratings.