Straining to hear something - which is better?

by Robert Gill
14th January 2013

I'm having a phrasing headache that I can't figure out. When a group of people are straining to hear something quiet, which is correct:

"She called for silence and they all strained their ears." or

She called for silence and they all strained their hearing."

Replies

Everyone fell silent as they listened intently. Perhaps?

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Claire
Roberts
270 points
Developing your craft
Claire Roberts
14/01/2013

Everyone fell silent as they listened intently. Perhaps?

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Claire
Roberts
270 points
Developing your craft
Claire Roberts
14/01/2013

Ok, I'm going to leave this line alone now. :o

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Robert
Gill
270 points
Developing your craft
Robert Gill
14/01/2013