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Writer's pictureSteve Gamel

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Reap What You Sow or Reap What You Sew?


I've been writing and editing a ton of content lately. As a result, I'm bound to see the same mistakes repeatedly pop up. A perfect example is this phrase: Reap what you sow.


I'm sure you've heard this phrase used in everyday conversation, primarily when referring to future consequences inevitably being shaped by present actions. But even though we say this phrase a lot, we still need to learn how to write it out. In fact, most people don't realize they've been writing it down wrong (as reap what you sew) their entire lives.


Full transparency: It took me a long time to realize I was making this mistake.


Follow along with me as I explain more in today's blog post.


Sow and Sew Are Homophones!


Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Sow and Sew are two common examples. Other examples are by, buy, and bye, brake and break, coarse and course ... the list goes on and on, my friends.


Homophones have always fascinated me, which is why they've largely been the focus of my Edit This Grammar Lesson blog posts over the years.


Plus, they trip a lot of people up. So I'm here to help.


The phrase reap what you sow is historically a farming term meaning to plant seeds in the ground. By putting in this hard work now, the idea is that you will eventually harvest (or reap) the crops that grow from the seeds you planted.


Metaphorically speaking, it means the actions you put out into the world will eventually yield corresponding results. For instance, if you constantly lie to everyone, they will view you as someone who can't be trusted. By the same token, if you put in the work now to study for a big test, you will see the benefits on exam day.


In other words, you reap what you sow.


  • After years of hard work preparing for the Olympics, she finally reaped what she sowed by winning five gold medals in swimming.

  • Parents often teach kids that they'll reap what they sow if they work hard.

  • If you mistreat people now, don't be surprised when you reap what you sow later.


Conversely, sew refers to joining, fastening, or repairing (sewing fabric) and has nothing to do with planting or harvesting in a literal or metaphorical sense. Therefore, writing "reap what you sew" wouldn't make sense.


To summarize, never write reap what you sew. It's simply wrong.


The correct usage is to reap what you sow.


Call Edit This® in Denton, TX, for all your writing and editing needs.


It's fun to tease friends for grammar mistakes or point out errors in other written copy. But any spelling or grammar error in business writing – brochures, website copy, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, etc. – wreaks havoc on your company's image.


Studies show that when choosing between two companies, customers prefer the one with clear and error-free written communication.


We hope you enjoyed today's blog. If you want to have Edit This® handle your company's content writing and editing needs, call us today! We can write copy from scratch or spruce up your writing. Everyone could use an extra set of eyes when it comes to grammar.


STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.


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