Spelling is notoriously tricky in the English language. If you occasionally confuse their, they’re and there, phase and faze, rest assured you are not alone. The English language contains many words that sound the same but, confusingly, are spelt differently and also mean completely different things. These are known as homophones and other examples are pray and prey and to, two and too.
Then there are homographs: words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and pronunication. Lead (to go in front of) and lead (the metal) are common examples along with wind (to follow a course that isn’t straight) and wind (a gust of air).
An easy way to remember the difference is that -graph means drawn or written so it stands to reason that a homograph has the same spelling. The -phone ending means sound or voice so a homophone has the same pronunciation.
But, as if that wasn’t difficult enough, homonyms enter the picture. According to who you talk to homonym means either:
A word that is spelled like another one but has a different sound and meaning (a homograph) or a word that sounds like another but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone)
Or
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another but has a different meaning (in other words a homograph and a homophone!)
So does a homonym have to be both a homograph and a homophone or can it just be one or the other? There is no definitive answer – it depends on who you ask. Many dictionaries say a homonym must be both a homograph and a homophone but others claim it can be either or. If you are now thoroughly confused don’t worry – as long as you use the right word it doesn’t really matter too much what category it falls into.
Even the immoral businessman Sir Philip Green is not immune to getting a bit mixed up. Berating the Work & Pensions Select Committee Chairman Frank Field MP for allegedly insulting him, the disgraced tycoon railed, “The BHS pensions can only hope that you now reign (sic) yourself in.” (He, of course, meant to say rein).
Philip Green’s yacht was re-named ‘The BHS Destroyer’ by comedian Lee Nelson
And even a word nerd like me occasionally has to double-check lynch and linchpin, two frequently misspelled words. What homonyms, homophones and homographs do you often have trouble with? Let us know!
