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."
The sentence does not work.
Why would you strain your ears, if someone called for silence?
Howabout, In a commanding tone/firm voice she called for silence and the noisy assembly/crowd quietened.
I hope that helps.
Pleasure.
Thanks, Philip! That's just what I was looking for. I just could quite think of how to phrase it.