What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
alerting
Example
The smoke detector is designed for alerting people in case of a fire. [alerting: verb]
Example
The security system sends an alerting message to the owner's phone when there is a break-in. [alerting: gerund or present participle]
notification
Example
The company sent a notification to all employees about the upcoming meeting. [notification: noun]
Example
I received a notification on my phone that my package has been delivered. [notification: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Notification is more commonly used than alerting in everyday language. Notification is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while alerting is less common and is usually associated with emergency or urgent situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between alerting and notification?
Notification is often used in formal contexts, such as business or legal settings, while alerting can be used in both formal and informal situations.