What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
harvesting
Example
The farmers were busy harvesting the wheat fields. [harvesting: verb]
Example
The company was able to harvest valuable insights from their customer data. [harvesting: gerund or present participle]
picking
Example
I'm having a hard time picking which dress to wear to the party. [picking: verb]
Example
We went apple picking at the orchard last weekend. [picking: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Picking is more commonly used than harvesting in everyday language. Picking is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while harvesting is less common and is mostly used in agricultural or business settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between harvesting and picking?
While harvesting is typically associated with a more formal or serious tone, picking can be used in both formal and informal contexts.