|
|
|
What are Homophones?
They are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling, e.g., new and knew. Or even to, too and two. This is a list of common homophones that many writers confuse and misuse when it comes to their writing.
Then vs. Than
Then - It is used to describe time such as the order in which things occur and conditions.
Ex: “If I don't do as they say then you will die”, or “I played soccer back then”.
Than - It is used for comparison.
Ex: “He is taller than me”, or "She's a better artist than I."
Your vs. You’re
Your - Belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing. "Your" means "belonging to you".
Ex: “It is your story”, "Your cat is so cute", and "I like your haircut".
You’re - It is a contraction of “you are”.
Ex: “You're getting on my nerves", "You're making things very hard for me", and "You're welcome".
Its vs. It’s
Its - This is the possessive form of "it". So 'its' means "belonging to it".
Ex: “I have its clothes”, "The reef shark chases its prey through the coral", and "This book is better than its cover would suggest".
It’s - This is the contraction of “it is” or "it has".
Ex: "It’s a very nice and warm morning today”, "It's a great idea", and "It's been two years".
Reign vs. Rein vs. Rain
Reign - To rule over a kingdom and subjects, or to be prominent. It can also mean the time period of a ruling influence, or a prevalence.
Ex: "The king reigned over his people with an iron fist", and "From now onwards, lying would be impossible, the reign of truth was at hand and deceit had been routed from its last stronghold".
Rein - (1) a strap that's used to control a horse or any other kind of animal. (2) it also means to restraint or to control.
Ex: "You're holding the reins wrong", "The jockey pulled on the horse’s reins to make it go faster", and "After Priscilla came home with a thousand dollar necklace, her husband suggested they ought to rein in their spending".
Rain - Is the condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate drops.
Ex: "So much rain fell the last two days that the town was flooded", or "No need to wash the car when the rain will do it for you".
They're vs. Their vs. There
They're - Is the contraction of "they are".
Ex: "They're next door with Kimi", "They're here to pick us up", and "They're claiming to do everything they can to clean up the oil spill".
Their - Refers to something that belongs to a person.
Ex: "The children played with their toys", "My friends have lost their minds", and "Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly".
There - (1) used to refer to a place, whether concrete or more abstract. (2) it can also be used to indicate the existence of something, or to mention something for the first time.
Ex: "You left your knife over there", "I see there are new flowers coming up in your garden", and "There is a new store opening up at 5th Avenue".
Sit vs. Sat
Sit - To be seated.
Ex: "Please sit next to Lee."
Sat - Past tense of 'sit'.
Ex: "She sat down with her friends."
Lie vs. Lay
Lie - (1) to recline. (2) to speak a false statement.
Ex: "She lies in bed", and "She lies to her husband when she says he's the father of her baby".
Lay - To place something down.
Ex: "She laid down the gun on the floor", and "She will lay the plans out for you".
Hanged vs. Hung
Hanged - To fasten something above; suspend. It is the suspension of a person by a ligature.
Ex: "He hanged himself with an old bed sheet."
Hung - The past tense and past participle of hang.
Ex: "He hung a picture on the wall", and "She told him where to find her sister, and hung up the phone".
Whose vs. Who's
Whose - Is the possessive form of who (belonging to or associated with) and often of which (used to indicate that the following noun belongs to or is associated with the person or thing mentioned).
Ex: "Whose dirty socks are these on the breakfast table?”, "I know a woman whose kids study there", and "Whose side are you on?".
Who's - Is a contraction of "who is" or, less commonly, "who has".
Ex: "Who's Mike?", "Do you know who's going to speak?", and "Who's ready to go?"
Were vs. We're vs. Wear vs. Ware vs. Where
Were - Refers to having done something in the past tense.
Ex: "We were walking down the street."
We're - Is a contraction of "we are".
Ex: "We're ready to go!"
Wear - (1) To wear is having something such as clothing, decoration, protection, or for some other purpose on one's body or a part of one's body. (2) Another use of the word means erosion (wear and tear).
Ex: "You should wear that necklace", "Don't wear that dress because it looks hideous on you", and "These wires are strong and withstand normal wear and tear".
Ware - Means merchandise or (usually in the plural) things of the same kind that are for sale.
Ex: "The local candy store supplied free samples of its delicious wares."
Where - (1) refers to a location. (2) it is also used as a substitute for "in which".
Ex: "Where did you put my candy?", and "She wrote a book where there was an angel."
Witch vs. Which
Witch - Refers to a person, especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic, especially black magic or the black art; sorceress.
Ex: "Just because I'm a witch doesn't mean I have to be ugly", or "Not all witches are evil".
Which - Is used to further specified, identified, or distinguished a particular thing.
Ex: "Which girl are you talking about?" or "The book, which I read last night, was exciting."
Lose vs. Loose
Lose - Refers to loss. In not having something in your possession.
Ex: "I'm not going to lose to the likes of you", and "Don't worry! I'm not going to lose my keys".
Loose - Is the opposite of tight. When something is unbound. To unfasten.
Ex: "My shoelaces were loose."
Pour vs. Pore
Pour - A liquid that flows in a continuous, steady stream.
Ex: "She pour some fresh tea in my cup."
Pore - (1) a small opening in a surface, esp. the skin. (2) to study or read with care and application.
Ex: "Clogged facial pores are a skin problem because they allow bacteria, oil, and dead skin to collect in them easily." and "He's spent hours poring over the map."
Threw vs. Through
Threw - Is the past tense of "throw".
Ex: "He threw his blanket over her slumbering form", and "The pitcher threw a curve ball".
Through - It is never a verb. It refers to a passage—from start to finish, or from point A to point B.
Ex: "The Prince had to get through the forest to save the Princess", "He walked home through the park", and "Have you read through the article I left you?"
Loathe vs. Loath
Loathe - This means to dislike greatly. To feel a great hatred or disgust.
Ex: "Many people loathe fanfiction", "She loathes spiders", and "I loathe Valentine’s Day".
Loath - This means to be unwilling or reluctant.
Ex: "He was loath to admit that he was included in the deal", "Finn was loath to get out of bed", and "I am loath to admit that I was wrong".
Affect vs. Effect
Affect - Is to cause something to change or to have an impact upon it in some way.
Ex: "The weather affected my writing by making me feel tired", "Earthquakes can affect a wide area and cause much destruction", and "We don't know how the school changes will affect our schedule".
Effect - Is the result of an influence or change; a consequence.
Ex: "HIV was the effect of a sexual active life", "The effect of global warming is that glaciers will melt and sea levels will rise", and "Loss of stamina is just one negative effect of smoking".
Awe vs. Aw
Awe - Is an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.
Ex: "She look up at him in awe", "When I finally saw the actress, at the movie premiere, for the first time, I was in awe", and "I am in awe of the great works that Gandhi and Mother Teresa did during their lifetimes".
Aw - Is used to express either sentimental approval, disgust or unhappiness.
Ex: "Aw, aren't you so cute!", or "Aw man, it sucks that it's raining".
Altogether vs. All together
Altogether - Means completely, thoroughly or in all.
Ex: "Organization XIII was altogether against disobeying Xemnas", "Despite their painted smiles, the clowns' sorrow was altogether clear", and "There were altogether 20 people at the dinner".
All together - Means all at the same time.
Ex: "All together they went to the party", "The clowns stood all together at the front of the chapel", and "The prisoners were herded all together".
Already vs. All ready
Already - Is used to specified time.
Ex: "I already went to the supermarket", "The children were already asleep when we got home" and "Let's go already!"
All ready - Is used to express preparedness.
Ex: "Yugi was all ready to face Marik", "She was all ready to leave for school", and "The tourist were all ready to get on the bus".
Farther vs. Further
Farther - Is used for actual, physical distance.
Ex: "Edward walked farther today then he did yesterday", and "How much farther do we have to go before we can stop for food?"
Further - Is use for metaphorical distance.
Ex: "Study the subject further if you want a better understanding of it", "I have no further comment", and "BP failed to contain the oil spill to avoid further damage".
Addition vs. Edition
Addition - Is the process of joining together or finding the sum of.
Ex: “For this problem you must use addition to solve it", and "A more recent addition to the family is George".
Edition - Refers to a form in which a book, magazine, or other literary work is published.
Ex: “I have the first edition of the new book called Knowledge.”
Advice vs. Advise
Advice - Is a suggestion or guidance as to a course of action.
Ex: “She asked him for advice”, "I am seeking your advice because you are more experienced in such matters", and "I need your advice on dating".
Advise - The act of giving advice.
Ex. “He advised with his lawyer", "I would advise you to submit your resignation in view of this scandal", and "He advised me to always keep my passport on me when I was in China".
Allude vs. Elude
Allude - Means to make a reference to something indirectly or by suggestion.
Ex: “He allude to one of Shakespeare’s sonnets", and "He did not allude to the remarks made by the previous speaker".
Elude - Means to evade, or escape from someone or something, especially by using cunning or skill.
Ex: “The meaning eludes me", "The answer to this puzzle eluded me until she gave me that hint", and "The convict escaped from prison and eluded the FBI for several days".
Quite vs. Quiet
Quite - Means to be completely, entirely, or really.
Ex: "You are quite wrong", and "The apple pie was quite delicious!"
Quiet - Making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound.
Ex: "We must be quiet inside the library."
Since vs. Sense
Since - (1) in the intervening period between (the time mentioned) and the time under consideration, typically the present. (2) is synonymous with "because".
Ex: "He left home two years ago and has since become a soldier", and "Since you're already here, you might as well help me with the cake".
Sense - Indicates the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
Ex: "All of my senses were on the alert for danger", "We had a sense that something wasn't quite right", and "He has such an amazing sense of humor".
Principal vs. Principle
Principal - A person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position.
Ex: "Mrs Rose is the principal of the school."
Principle - A comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption.
Ex: "His investment strategy is based on the principle that the stock market offers the best returns for long-term investors", or "The principles of physics dictate that you cannot travel faster than the speed of light".
Ensure vs. Insure
Ensure - Means to make sure or to guarantee.
Ex: "Leaving your car unlocked in this neighborhood will ensure your stereo gets stolen."
Insure - Means to safeguard against loss or damage (by buying insurance).
Ex: "It is required by law that you insure your car."
Among vs. Between
Among - Is used when referring to more than two persons or things. In the midst of.
Ex: “He was just one among hundreds", "Anime is becoming more and more popular among younger children", and "Fear spread among the hostages".
Between - In a space or interval separating two person, things, time, events, etc.
Ex: "Let's keep this between you and me", "The differences between English, Chinese, and Arabic are significant", and "Anna had to choose between Ash and Gary".
 DamnBlackHeart · Sun Sep 18, 2011 @ 06:45pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
