Some words sound the same but are spelt differently – and can even mean different things!
If you sometimes confuse phase and faze or their, they’re and there, you’re not alone. Even the President of the United States struggles with his spelling, according to leaked notes for a recent speech, which showed him misspelling Al Qaeda as ‘Alcaida’.
People who struggle with spelling aren’t helped by the vagaries of the English language. It contains many words that sound the same but, confusingly, are spelt differently and also mean completely different things. An example is to and two. These are known as homophones.
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).
And, 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 which category it falls into.
Here’s a checklist of some common words that are spelt differently but sound the same:
Word |
Not to be confused with |
To |
Two/too |
There |
Their/they’re |
Your |
You’re/yore |
Buy |
By/bye/bi |
To |
Two/too |
Sell |
Cell |
I |
Eye |
Due |
Dew |
Bear |
Bare |
Ate |
Eight |
Pray |
Prey |
Where |
Wear |
Fair |
Fare |
Wait |
Weight |
One |
Won |
Son |
Sun |
Right |
Write |
Sight |
Site |
Meet |
Meat |
|
Male |
Know |
No |
Lynch |
Linchpin |
For |
Four |
Flour |
Flower |
Our |
Hour |
Here |
Hear |
Knight |
Night |
Break |
Brake |
Phase |
Faze |