Difference between sitting and seating

Difference between sitting and seating

This is part of the difference between series.

I’ve heard some people confusing the words sitting and seating. Here’s the difference between the two.

Seating

Seating refers to how seats are laid out.

The seating arrangement is fan-shaped.

Sitting

Sitting refers to how one sits.

The sitting arrangement will be on the floor rather than on dining chairs.

In other words, sitting is what you do and seating is where you do it.

A simple trick for remembering this is the phrase “I sit.” Both words have an I in it, and the phrase describes what you’re doing.

Which words do you confuse? Let me know in the comments below.

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By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

14 comments

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  5. Sitting plan or Seating plan, for a classroom. Thank you.

    1. A sitting plan would be how you sit on the chairs in a classroom. A seating plan would be how you arrange the chairs in a classroom. Hope that helps, Seiichi. :)

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  7. “Where is your sitting location?” or “Where is youe seating location?”

    1. It depends.

      “Sitting location” refers to where you sit on your seat (My sitting location is on the edge of my chair). “Seating location” refers to where your seat is in reference to other seats in the room (My seating location is in the upper balcony).

  8. Which is appropriate – he’s not on sit or he’s not on seat? From your explanation above, I think not on sit looks appropriate. Pls confirm. Thanks

    1. Hi, Shade. Thanks for commenting. It would be “He’s not on seat” although it would also need an article or pronoun, such as “He’s not on the seat” or “He’s not on his seat”.

  9. I am sitting on Nth floor? I am seating on Nth floor?

    1. Probably sitting.

      I am seating on the Nth floor would describe someone who is setting up seats on that floor on which others can sit.

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