Putting and putting are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words putting and putting, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences.
Putting (puhtting) is the act of hitting a golf ball into the hole from a short distance. Putting is a gerund, which is a verb acting as a noun. Putting is also the present participle of the verb putt, meaning to hit a golf ball into the hole from a short distance. The verb putt is derived from the Scottish verb putt, meaning to shove, which dates from the 1500s.
Putting (puuting) is the act of placing something, of moving something to a different position. Putting is a gerund of the verb put or the present participle of the verb put. The verb put is derived from the Old English word, putian.
Examples
His putting, always a strong suit, slipped last season, but he inserted a mallet putter in the bag last fall in Las Vegas and noticed an improvement in starting his putts on line. (Golf Week)
The club has evolved from its humble beginnings as a 9-gole golf course with putting greens made from a mixture of cotton seed hulls and oil flattened with a heavy roller. (Golf Course Industry Magazine)
Rain will come to an end late Monday night into very early Tuesday morning, putting down at least a half inch of rainfall in Southern Indiana, with some seeing far more than that. (Evening News and Tribune)
Younger savers still not putting away enough for retirement (Irish News)
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