What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shooting
Example
The police officer was shooting at the target during his training. [shooting: verb]
Example
He won a gold medal in shooting at the Olympics. [shooting: noun]
Example
I was shooting a video of my friend's wedding. [shooting: gerund]
shelling
Example
The army was shelling the enemy's position. [shelling: verb]
Example
I spent the afternoon shelling peanuts for the party. [shelling: gerund]
Example
The city was under heavy shelling during the war. [shelling: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shooting is more commonly used than shelling in everyday language, as it has a wider range of contexts and applications. Shelling is more specific and is primarily used in a military context.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shooting and shelling?
Both shooting and shelling can be used in formal or informal contexts, but shelling may be more associated with a formal or technical tone due to its military connotations.