Is the phrase “Efforts Do Not Betray Results” Appropriate?

Usually, these uploads are accompanied by music that motivates or moves you. Sometimes it is also inserted with the words ”Results Do Not Betray Effort”. However, there were also those who wrote, ”Effort Does Not Betray Results”. Actually, which expression is more appropriate?

Let's try to look at other similar expressions. A few years ago, when the book Negeri 5 Menara by A Fuadi was published, which was followed by the film, social media suddenly burst with the phrase man jadda wajadda. That sentence more or less means 'whoever is serious (in doing something), he will surely succeed'.

When reviewed in more detail, the sentence has a causal pattern, that is, because there is effort, it will succeed.

We can find almost the same expression in the proverb floating upstream, swimming to the shore; pain first, have fun later. In this proverb, we also find a causal pattern, namely after trying, only then can we reap results.

Then, what about the expression effort does not betray results?

In Big Indonesian Dictionary, the word effort is defined as (1) an activity by exerting energy, mind, or body to achieve an intention; work (deeds, initiatives, efforts, efforts) to achieve something; (2) activities in the trading sector (with the intention of making a profit); trading; company.

While results,, among others, are defined as (1) something that is procured (made, used, and so on) by business (plants, rice fields, land, fields, forests, and so on); (2) consequences; ending (of a match, examination, etc.); (3) successful; got results; did not fail.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the result is something that is a consequence of effort.

Grammatical meaning

At the beginning of this article, there are several examples that clearly explain the cause and effect relationship. Starting from efforts (learning, working, practicing) to reaping the results (successfully entering state universities, successful in business, succeeding in getting a medal).

Efforts do not betray results. At a glance, the sentence seems to use the same pattern, namely causation. There is effort, followed by results.

However, in contrast to the two proverbs above which can be called positive sentences, the expression effort does not betray results contains the word no. So, when the causal pattern is applied directly, the expression this is not quite right.

How is it possible to betray the result of our efforts? While we are striving, suddenly we make a mistake by betraying the results that we have not yet achieved?

Therefore, a more appropriate expression should be the result does not betray the effort. This can be interpreted that the results we get are the result of the efforts we have done. It can also be interpreted that after we do business, then we get results.

How could effort betray results?

What should be noted in this paper is that the word expression is not intended as a combination of words that express a special meaning (the meaning of its elements is often obscured) or as an idiom.

The word expression here is more intended as something that is expressed, in the form of a combination of words that have grammatical meaning, which contains logic.

So, expressions like the result does not betray the effort are at that level. This expression is based on the logical rule. The meaning of the sentence must be sorted based on its constituent elements, namely the word.

Retmawati, Compass Language Aligner