3.7: Homonyms

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Frost & Samra et al.
Kellogg Community College

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Homonyms are words that sound alike but are spelled differently – and of course that means they mean different things, too.

The Difficult Dozen

it’s its

An apostrophe doesn’t always show ownership. Instead, recall that an apostrophe can also take the place of a letter: it’s always means it is whereas its shows possession.

you’re your

It’s time for that cat to have its claws removed!

You’re always means you are whereas your shows ownership – i.e. the dog that belongs to you. A noun ( a person, place, or thing) will always follow the word your.

who’s whose

You’re not going to believe this, but your dog has fleas.

This one trips up many writers who assume the apostrophe in who’s shows possession. However, who’s means who is while whose shows ownership.

they’re their there

Whose dirty plates are these, and who’s going to load them in the dishwasher?

they’re = they are

their = ownership/possession

there = location or place

then than

We don’t want the troops to think they’re on their own over there.

To remember this, think of than with an “ a ” as a comp a rison; then has to do with tim e and ord e r and e ffects.

to too two

I know more now than I did back then.

There are two ways to get to the highway, but both require too many details to remember.

to = at or towards

too = a degree of or also

two = 2

20 GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION

The effects of the tornado are yet to be determined, but officals report that it did not affect every neighborhood.

This one is straightforward: effect effect

with an “ e ” is a noun that refers to affect

a r e sult; affect with an “ a ” is a verb showing a ction.

accept except

I would accept his apology in a minute except for the fact that it doesn’t seem sincere.

accept = to take

except = to exclude

here hear

Once you get here, we’ll walk down to the auditorium to hear the sound check.

Okay – keep it simple: hear contains the word ear , which is all about sound.

past passed

In the past, our neighbor would wave to us as he passed our driveway.

Try to remember this tip: past with a “ t ” refers to t ime; passed is a verb and shows action.

weather whether

My wife is wondering whether we should move to a warmer climate after the frigid weather we endured this winter.

What do heat and sweat have in common? They both contain the letters ea – and both are related to the w ea ther.

allowed aloud

The student was hoping that she would be allowed to read her final draft aloud in class.

One way to remember this pair of homonyms is by looking at their root words: allow = to let or enable; loud = sound.

Bonus tips: You should have discovered The Pocket Prof a long time ago. (not should of )

My professor told us we were supposed to use the book often. (not suppose to )