Deep Seated or Deep Seeded: Which is Correct?

We’re about to learn another set of words that make you sound smart, but there’s a common problem that pops up with this one. Is the correct spelling “deep seated or deep seeded” — and is there a hyphen in there? Let’s find out how to write it, and what it means!

As background, my name is Ms. Marshall, and I’ve been an English teacher for almost 20 years. My particular passion is helping to clearly explain hard words to spell in English. Through somewhat goofy hand-drawn cartoon illustrations, I hope to help the writing rules stick in your brain.

Deep Seated or Deep Seeded?

In the “deep seated or deep seeded” quandary, the answer is relatively easy: 95% of the time, you’re looking for the spelling “deep-seated” (with an “at” in the middle, and a hyphen after “deep”). This phrase means: “so firmly established that it’s difficult to change.”

Meaning and Examples

Often the adjective “deep-seated” is used to describe an emotion — especially a fear — that is profoundly rooted in someone’s mind or heart, and thus hard to separate from. This can be a positive thing or a negative thing. Here are some example sentences.

• “I have a deep-seated fear of deep seats! I’ve always been afraid that if I sit in one, its pillowy cushions will wrap around me and grab onto my clothes, and I’ll never get out!”

• “She has a deep-seated belief in fairness, and speaks up with fiery conviction whenever injustice occurs.”

How to Remember “Seated”

Now that we know that “deep-seated” is the correct spelling in these commonly confused words, how do we remember it? Well, in addition to visualizing that scheming seat from my cartoon above, you can think: “Something deep-seATed is AT a place (maybe even an emotion located AT your heart), and hard to move.”

The Few Times “Seeded” is Correct

Usually, “deep-seeded” is just a common misspelling that’s not correct to use, however, 5% of the time it might be. The only time it would actually make sense and be accurate is if you’re talking about sports.

Why? You COULD correctly use the term “seed” in the context of teams’ rankings. In that case, a “deep-seeded” team would be ranked very low, because it is deep down in the order.

Deep Seated or Deep Seeded, in Sum

I hope this lesson on deep seated or deep seeded has been useful, and that my cartoon illustration of an evil deep seat helps the rule stick in your mind. What other relevant tutorials would you like me to teach? Do share!

Want more? Check out my article about types of conflict in literature, movies, and TV…