I sow that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I sow that" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "I saw that"? If this is the case, you can use it when referring to something you have observed or noticed in the past. Example: "I saw that you completed the project ahead of schedule, and I wanted to congratulate you."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We want to try to sow that seed of doubt in their head that Ravenhill is going to be a tough place to get a result," he said.

BBC

But he sows that misery in the soil of a literary thriller that germinates more terror than sorrow.

The Washington Post

"To quote the Bible: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

The Guardian

Having arrived in the U.S. at the age of eighteen, without knowing a single word of English and without proper documents to legally reside in the U.S., I believe that I sow the seeds of pursuing the higher education". Yes, her road to integration was hard, but now, some twenty-five years later, Verónica finally feels at home in the United States.

HuffPost

"But I believed that in America, I could truly reap what I sowed and that the measure of a man was his ability and determination to succeed.

Forbes

A neighbor observed, after I sowed the seed, that it would attract bees.

The New York Times

But the documents do not sow that this happened.

The Guardian

"If you sow that seed about striving for excellence then you will improve.

BBC

Maybe that's why I sowed the Sutton broad beans – in the baby polytunnel with the struggling oriental seedlings.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"She's doing a really good job with this gilt," the term for a sow that hasn't been bred.

The New York Times - Travel

"A sow that's got little ones, you know she's lactating, would drink 20, 25 litres a day of water.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "I sow that", clarify your intended meaning. If you mean 'I saw that', use the correct verb form to indicate observation. If you intend to convey planting or seeding, ensure the object (seeds, ideas, etc.) is clearly specified in the sentence.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "sow" when they mean "saw". "Sow" refers to planting seeds, while "saw" refers to observing something. Double-check your verb choice to ensure accurate communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I sow that" is often grammatically incorrect. If the intention is to express observation, the correct form is "I saw that". The verb "sow" typically requires a direct object, such as "seeds" to make sense.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I sow that" is typically grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's often confused with "I saw that", which expresses observation. The verb "sow" requires a direct object (like "seeds") for the sentence to be grammatically sound. The Ludwig AI confirms this by indicating that it is not a correct English phrase. When intending to convey observation ensure to use the correct phrase (I saw that). Overall, clarity and correctness depend heavily on context and intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I saw that

Changes the verb "sow" (to plant) to "saw" (to see), indicating observation rather than planting.

I know that

Replaces "sow" with "know", indicating awareness or understanding of something.

I plant that

Uses "plant" instead of "sow", keeping the agricultural theme but with a slightly different emphasis.

I seeded that

Uses "seeded" instead of "sow", keeping the agricultural theme, but uses the past tense.

I cultivate that

Replaces "sow" with "cultivate", suggesting a more involved process than simply planting.

I nurture that

Changes the verb to "nurture", implying care and development of something.

I foster that

Uses "foster" instead of "sow", suggesting the encouragement of growth or development.

I sow those seeds

Corrects the sentence to include the object "seeds" making sense.

I will sow that

Adds "will" to create a future tense, indicating an intention to plant something.

That is what I sow

Reorders the words to emphasize the action of sowing, changing the focus of the sentence.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "sow" in a sentence?

The word "sow" refers to planting seeds. For example, you could say "I sow seeds in the spring" or "Farmers sow wheat in the fall". If you mean "see", use the word "saw that" instead.

What can I say instead of "I sow that" if I mean "I saw that"?

If you intended to say you observed something, use "I saw that". If you intended to express the action of planting you can use "I will sow that seed".

Is "I sow that" grammatically correct?

No, "I sow that" is not typically grammatically correct in standard English. It's more likely you meant to say "I saw that", or needed to include an object in the sentence like "I sow that seed".

How do I avoid confusing "sow" and "saw" in my writing?

Remember that "sow" (pronounced like 'sew') means to plant, while "saw" is the past tense of "see". Using context clues and proofreading can help you choose the correct word.