What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
planting
Example
I am planting tomatoes in my garden this year. [planting: present participle]
Example
The farmer spent the day planting corn in the field. [planting: gerund]
sowing
Example
The farmer is sowing wheat in the field today. [sowing: present participle]
Example
She spent the morning sowing wildflower seeds in the meadow. [sowing: gerund]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Planting is more commonly used than sowing in everyday language. Planting is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while sowing is more specific to agriculture and gardening.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between planting and sowing?
Both planting and sowing are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
