Blog: Words For Thought |
Blog: Words For Thought |
Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like many of the previous blogs we are looking at homophones. Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
I understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that homophones give almost every writer fits and difficulties. Because we sound words out in our mind, it is easy to write the wrong word. Let’s not forget typographical errors also, a slip of the finger on the keyboard can create a different word that may not be caught by a spell-checker. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as vary and very, or must, mist and most. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. Word Refiner is dedicated to uprooting all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve. Now, onto today’s episode! Three of the shortest words in the English language. So simple and yet they will trip you up, if they are used incorrectly. Because they sound alike. 1st is To. To is a preposition, it can be used with nouns, pronouns, and verbs. We go to the stadium to see the football game. We forgot to bring our blanket, we were cold. 2nd is Too. This word can be used in multiple ways also. You ate too much ice cream. I want some ice cream too. The first example deals with the concept of excess, the second is like saying also. 3rd is Two. While not often mixed up with the first pair of homonyms, it is subject to typographical errors, as they all are. An easy way to remember for my numerically challenged friends is the letter “w”. It is used in other words dealing with numbers like twice, and twenty. Perhaps this tip will help: when in doubt, try reading the section aloud; unless you are in a library, then reading aloud is not allowed. Oops, two more homophones. No extra charge. Thanks to my friend Ev Valle, of Valle Translations, for suggesting this trio of homonyms. There they are, three words with identical sounds. If you use the wrong word the reader might think they hit an invisible tree root and lose the reading momentum you worked so hard to build. Use every tool available to prevent that from happening, do not give your readers a reason to not finish your story. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Homophones Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought. Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner, for more alerts about hazardous homophones search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference. Copyright © 2015 Mark L Schultz
7 Comments
2/5/2022 03:50:47 am
Thank You for Sharing this informative article! Very well-written.
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3/8/2024 04:44:21 am
I usually enjoy reading your writings, and I like that you shared this though.
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AuthorAn avid reader and hyper speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
September 2023
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