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Homophones

What are Homophones?

They are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.

For example: “to”, “too” and “two”.

This is a list of common homophones that many writers mix up or miss when they are writing/checking their work.

Then/Than

Then - adverb used to describe time and conditions.
Ex: “If I do as they say, then you will die.” or “I played soccer back then”.

Than - conjunction/preposition used for comparison.
Ex: “He is taller than me.”

Your/You’re

Your - possessive pronoun.
Ex: “It is your story.”

You’re - contraction of “you are”.
Ex: “You’re getting on my nerves.”

Its/It’s

Its - possessive pronoun.
Ex: “I have its clothes.”

It’s - contraction of “it is”.
Ex: “It’s a very nice and warm morning today.”

Reigns/Reins

Reigns - sovereign power or rule.
Ex: “The King reigns.”

Rein - a strap that’s used to control a horse or other draft animal. Or any means of restraint or control.
Ex: “You’re holding the reins wrong.”

They’re/Their/There

They’re - is a contraction of “they are.”
Ex: “They’re next door with Kimi.”

Their - possessive pronoun. It refers to something that belongs to a person.
Ex: “The children played with their toys.”

There - adverb that describes location.
Ex: “You left your kunai over there.”

Sit/Sat

Sit - verb. To be seated.
Ex: “Please sit next to Lee.”

Sat - past tense of sit.
Ex: “She sat down with her friends.”

Lie/Lay

Lie - (1) to recline. (2) to speak an untruth.
Ex: (1) “She lies in bed.” (2) “She lies to her husband when she says he’s the father of her baby.”

Lay - to place something down.
Ex: “She lay very still all night.”

Note: This one may confuse you but there are two types of lie. When one doesn’t tell the truth, (Lie or Lied). Then there’s the other one that refers to recline (Lie/Lay/Lain). Then lay (Lay or Laid).

Hanged/Hung

Hanged - past verb. To fasten something above; suspend. Use for people.
Ex: “He hanged himself with an old bed sheet.”

Hung - past verb. The same as hanged but this is use for objects such as pictures.
Ex: “He hung a picture on the wall.”

Whose/Who’s

Whose - the possessive form of who and often of which.
Ex: ““Whose dirty socks are these on the breakfast table?”

Who’s - contraction of “who is”.
Ex: “Who’s Mike?”

Were/Wear/Where

Were - refers to having something in the past tense.
Ex: “We were walking down the street.”

Wear - refers to having clothing, accessories somewhere on the person.
Ex: “You should wear that necklace.”

Where - (1) refers to a location. (2) Also used as a substitute for “in which.”
Ex: (1) “Where did you put my pocky?” (2) She wrote a book where there was an angel.”

Witch/Which

Witch - refers to a female spellcaster.
Ex: “Just because I’m a witch doesn’t mean I have to be ugly.”

Which - refers to specifying one or more out of many.
Ex: “Which girl are you talking about?

Lose/Loose

Lose - not having something in your possession. To be without.
Ex: “I’m not going to lose to the likes of you.”

Loose - unbound. To unfasten.
Ex: “My shoelaces were loose.”

Pour/Pore

Pour - to flow in a continuous stream.
Ex: “She pour some fresh tea in my cup.”

Pore - to study or read with care and application.
Ex: “He pores over the map.”

Threw/Through

Threw - past tense of ‘throw.’
Ex: “He threw his blanket over her slumbering form.”

Through - refers to one person or thing going through another.
Ex: “The Prince had to get through the forest to save the Princess.”

Loathe/Loath

Loathe - to dislike. Feeling great hatred or disgust.
Ex: “Many loathe badly written fanfics.”

Loath - strongly disinclined. To be unwilling.
Ex: “She is loath.”

Affect/Effect

Affect - verb. To change or have an impact upon.
Ex: “The weather affected my writing by making me feel tired.”

Effect - noun. Something that is produced; a consequence.
Ex: “HIV was the effect of a sexual active life.”

Awe/Aw

Awe - a feeling of reverence, admiration, fear.
Ex: “She look up at him in awe.”

Aw - used to express sympathy, tenderness, disapproval, or disbelief.
Ex: “Aw, aren’t you so cute!”

Altogether/All together

Altogether - adverb. Meaning completely, thoroughly or in all.
Ex: “Organization 13 was altogether against disobeying Xemnas.”

All together - adverb. Meaning all at the same time.
Ex: “All together they went to the party.”

Already/All ready

Already - adverb. Before or by this time.
Ex: “I already went to the supermarket.”

All ready - adjective. To express preparedness.
Ex: “Yugi was all ready to face Marik.”

Farther/Further

Farther - actual, physical distance.
Ex: “Edward walked farther today then he did yesterday.”

Further - metaphorical distance.
Ex: “Make sure you that study the subject further if you want a better understanding.”

Addition/Edition

Addition - the process of joining together or finding the sum of.
Ex: “For this problem you must use addition to solve it.”

Edition - refers to the 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/Advise

Advice - noun. A suggestion as to a course of action.
Ex: “She asked him for advice.”

Advise - verb. To give advice to, counsel. Inform.
Ex. “He advised with his lawyer.”

Allude/Elude

Allude - means to make indirect or casual reference.
Ex: “He allude to one of Shakespeare’s sonnets.”

Elude - mens to avoid or escape.
Ex: “The meaning eludes me.”

Quite/Quiet

Quite - (1) completely, entirely, really. (2) truly, very, rather.
Example: “You are quite wrong.”

Quiet - making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound.
Example: “We must be quiet inside the library.”

Among/Between

Among - used when referring to more than two persons or things. In the midst of.
Ex: “He was just one among hundreds.”

Between - In a space or interval separating two person, things, times, events etc.
Ex: “It’s between you and me.”