What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
monitoring
Example
The doctor is monitoring the patient's condition closely. [monitoring: present participle]
Example
The company is monitoring its employees' internet usage. [monitoring: gerund]
surveillance
Example
The police have placed the suspect under surveillance. [surveillance: noun]
Example
The government is conducting surveillance on its citizens. [surveillance: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Monitoring is a more common word than surveillance in everyday language, as it is used in a variety of contexts such as healthcare, education, and business. Surveillance is more commonly associated with security or law enforcement contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between monitoring and surveillance?
Surveillance is generally considered a more formal and technical term than monitoring, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
