The Most Common Homophones

According to Oxford Dictionaries, a homophone is ‘each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling (e.g. new and knew)‘.

The ‘red squiggly line….

You are writing the initial chapter of your book using Microsoft Word. Intermittently, a red squiggly line appears under a misspelt word. Immediately, it is corrected and you let out a sigh of relief.

Now, rewind back. You are writing the initial chapter of your book on Microsoft Word. However, a helpful red line doesn’t appear under each misspelt word. Why? Because each misspelt word is a homophone. According to Oxford Dictionaries a homophone is

“each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling (e.g. new and knew)”.

Frequently used homophones

Just to let you know – we like helping people – so we have compiled a list of the most common homophones that confuse people. Some of the more difficult homophones have been explained.

1. 1. 1. Two – To
      2. Here – Hear (Use here as an adverb to indicate location. Use hear as a verb to indicate listening)
      3. There – Their (There can act as different parts of speech. Their is a pronoun.)
      4. Week – Weak (Week means any period of time. Weak means lacking in force (usually strength) or ability when used as an adjective)
      5. Sea – See (See is to perceive with the eyes. Sea meaning a pool or lake.)
      6. Maid – Made
      7. Pair – Pear
      8. Saw –Sore
      9. Cheque – Check
      10. Wood – Would
      11. Through – Threw (Threw is the past tense of the verb throw. Through is used to say that you entered on one side of something and exited on the other)
      12. Hire – Higher
      13. Fined – Find
      14. Waist – Waste (Waist refers to a part of the body. Waste refers to excess material)
      15. Poor – Paw
      16. Knew – New
      17. Court – Caught
      18. Than – Then (Use than for comparisons: John is much taller than his brother. Use then to indicate the passage of time, or when)
      19. Affect – Effect (Affect is a verb meaning to influence; effect is a noun meaning the result.)
      20. Buy – By (Buy means to purchase; by indicates proximity or means of achieving something.)
      21. Compliment – Complement (Compliment is praise; complement means something that completes.)
      22. Flour – Flower (Flour is used in baking; flower is a plant’s bloom.)
      23. Principal – Principle (Principal is a head of a school or main amount; principle is a fundamental truth or belief.)
      24. Bored – Board (Bored means uninterested; board can mean a flat piece of wood or a group of people.)
      25. Brake – Break (Brake is to slow down a vehicle; break means to fracture or split something.)
      26. Capital – Capitol (Capital refers to a city or funds; capitol is a building where a legislative body meets.)
      27. Peace – Piece (Peace is harmony; piece is a part of something.)
      28. Bear – Bare (Bear is an animal or to carry; bare means uncovered.)
      29. Stationary – Stationery (Stationary means not moving; stationery refers to writing materials.)
      30. Heel – Heal (Heel is the back part of the foot; heal means to recover from an injury.)
      31. Hole – Whole (Hole is an opening; whole means complete or entire.)
      32. Son – Sun (Son is a male child; sun is the star in the solar system.)
      33. Right – Write (Right can mean correct or a direction; write means to put words on paper.)
      34. Cell – Sell (Cell is a small room or biological unit; sell means to exchange for money.)
      35. Knight – Night (Knight is a historical or fantasy figure; night is the time between sunset and sunrise.)
      36. Desert – Dessert (Desert is a dry area; dessert is a sweet treat after a meal.)
      37. Air – Heir (Air is the invisible gas around us; heir is someone who inherits something.)
      38. Die – Dye (Die means to stop living; dye is a substance used to change colour.)

   If you’d prefer to learn by watching, check out this YouTube video explaining homophones for a more visual approach to understanding these common word pairs. We hope this list of homophones helps you in your writing. To ensure that homophones do not lead to mistakes in your writing, consider using our professional proofreading services. Contact us today  by visiting our website or giving us a call and see how we can help!