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HOMOPHONES AND COMMONLY CONFUSED
WORDS
Homophones are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have
different meanings. When using contractions, read the sentence aloud. For example, if
you can replace it’s with it is, or you’re with you are without disrupting the meaning of
the sentence, then you are using the correct word. When in doubt, use your dictionary.
Homophones
Their
There
They’re
Belonging to them
At that place
Contraction of they are
They’re looking for their books over there.
Its
It’s
Belong to it
Contraction of it is
That photo is a perfect fit; it’s great that its size is exactly what is needed.
Your
You’re
I see you’re watching your diet.
Then
Than
Referring to a point in time
Used in comparisons
She looks young. Then I found out that she is older than she looks.
To
Too
Two
Part of a gerund form of verb; indication of direction
Also; indicating a great amount
The number 2
The two children, who were too young to go to the park alone, wanted to go too, along
with the older children.
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Principal
Principle
Main; person in charge of a school
Rule or standard
The principal reason the principle was well-liked was that he was a man of principle,
who acted fairly.
Through
Threw
Finished; from one side to another
Past tense of the verb to throw
I knew we were through when she walked through the door and threw her ring at me.
All ready
Already
Completely prepared
Before, previously
When he finally finished the assignment and everything was all ready, it was already
past the deadline and too late to hand it in.
Weather
Whether
Climate, atmospheric conditions
if, if it happens that
After the organizers heard the weather forecast, they couldn’t decide whether or not to
cancel the race.
Whose
Who’s
Belonging to whom
The contraction of who is or who has
The person whose keys were found and who’s now being notified will be very relieved.
Right
Write
To be correct; the direction opposite of left
The verb to mark letters or numbers down
The student on the right side of the class will have to write down all the right answers
on the test if he wants to pass the course.
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Commonly Confused Words
Lose
Loose
The opposite of the verb win; to misplace
Undone or unfastened; too big or not fitting tightly
The woman is afraid to lose her wedding ring because it is too loose.
Quiet
Quite
Not noisy, silent
Absolutely, completely, really
The children, who are usually quite noisy, became very quiet after their mother got
angry at them.
Affect
Effect
Verb meaning “to have an influence” or “to act on”
Noun meaning “a result”; verb meaning “to bring about”
The sun affects me in the summer; one of its effects is a bright red sunburn.
Passed
Past
To go by; to succeed; to hand to (past tense)
A period of time before the present; to go by
Whenever I passed by my old house, I would think about the memories of my past.
Accept
Except
To receive or to agree
Not included
Most stores accept credit cards, except if they are very small or don’t have very much
business.