What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hawking
Example
The street vendor was hawking his wares to passersby. [hawking: verb]
Example
She made a living hawking her handmade jewelry at the local market. [hawking: gerund or present participle]
selling
Example
He is good at selling cars because he knows how to convince people to buy them. [selling: verb]
Example
She works in sales and is responsible for selling the company's products to clients. [selling: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Selling is more commonly used than hawking in everyday language. Selling is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts and can be used in both formal and informal situations, while hawking is less common and has a more specific connotation of selling on the street or in a market.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hawking and selling?
While hawking is typically associated with a more informal and even negative tone, selling can be used in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.