Homonyms
Created | Updated Feb 2, 2004
What is a homonym?
There are a lot of words in the English language which sound very similar, but have different spellings, and usually different meanings.
In everyday speech, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between them and nobody notices if somebody use the wrong one. However, when you move into more visual media, such as in an email, a journal posting or putting good old fashioned pen to paper it is possible to confuse your reader by making this seemingly tiny mistake.
The main problem is that, due to the very nature of the homonym, people do not learn the different spellings and associated meanings of each 'version' of the word- people who don't learn these correctly will use the wrong version in the wrong context. The problem here is that the writer may end up confusing their reader, and those that do know the correct usage may just pass the writer off as being tuppence short of a pound.
The only way to avoid this trap is to learn the correct usage!
Common Homonyms:
There/ Their/ They're
There:
Usually used to describe the location of a place or an object. It can be used in other ways, but these are best described by example:
"There is the thing!"
"The Donkey is over there."
"There are ways of making you talk."
Their:
Used to show possesion of something by a group, for example:
"This is their banana tree."
"Their ability was high."
They're:
A contraction of the words "they" and "are", hence the apostrophy. The easiest way to decide if this is the best version of this particular set of homonyms is by using "they are" instead- if that fits, then you can use "they're". If it doesn't fit, then you should be using either "their" or "there". For example:
"They're amazing!"
"I wonder what they're doing up there?"
To/ Two/ Too
To:
This is best explained by example:
"To the batmobile!"
"I want to come!"
"I don't know what to do"
Two:
Is the correct spelling of the number "2". This is used to describe 2 units or elements of an object or set of objects, for example:
"Two times two equals four"
"There are two balls"
Too:
Has two main meanings:
- As well, as well as, also;
"I want some too"
"I did that too!"
- Excess
"There are too many balloons!"
"It's too cold!"
Are/ Our
Are:
This is best explained by example:
"Are you O.K."
"There are some nice young chicks the farm."
"How old are you?"
"When are we going?"
Our:
Used in similar situations to "their" only this time the writer/ speaker is referring to ownership by a group that they belong to. For example:
"Would you like to visit our house?"
"This is our money."
"What time is our appointment?"
Your/ You're
Your:
Shows ownership:
"This is your mess."
"What's your name?"
You're:
Similar to "they're", "you're" is a contraction of the words "you" and "are", so logically, if you can substitute "you are" for "you're" in a piece of writing without messing it up completely, you're on the right track:
"You're a good cook."
"You're small minded and petty."
Its/ It's
Its:
The possesive form of "it":
"The horse lost its shoe"
"Open its mouth."
"It puts the lotion on its skin."
It's:
This is a contraction of:
- "it" and "is" (present)
"It's a nice day"
"Only if it's available"
- "it" and "has" (past)
"It's been a long time!"
"It's been calm recently."
