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Seeds of doubt
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We don't often think of chairs as being deep. But roots? Absolutely. And therein lies the confusion between "deep-seated" and "deep-seeded." But most of you weren't fooled by last week's quiz — almost 60% of you knew the phrase is "deep-seated." So how did "deep-seeded" get planted (😉) in our minds? Well, for starters, the two phrases sound alike. Plus, "seeded" makes sense in this context. It's a classic eggcorn, a misheard phrase that sometimes makes logical sense. Some other eggcorn examples include "pass mustard" instead of "pass muster" and "mute point" instead of "moot point." Looking up the etymology of "deep-seated" doesn't offer much help if you're trying to remember which phrase to use: You'll see descriptions such as "operating far below the surface" and "having its root far below the surface." Sorry to further sow the seeds of confusion! "Seat" is to position yourself or someone (or something) else, and "deep-seated" means firmly established. So maybe it makes sense to rely on the idea of something being still or set. "Seated" is associated with not moving, while plants are associated with growth. Something that's deep-seated usually isn't changing anytime soon. All right, we're sticking with the eggcorn theme for this week's quiz.
Bonus points: What other potential eggcorn did you spot in this newsletter? Hit reply and let us know. ❤ Team Stylebot
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Hone your writing skills and never use "hone in" again. Get writing tips, have fun with words and learn something new in a one-minute read each week by signing up for Stylebot’s newsletter.
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