If all we did was speak and never write, we might be good with so many homophones. Yes, nasty homophones!
ho·mo·phone
merriam-webster.com
One of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling (such as the words to, too, and two)
So why do homophones even exist?
Hair and hare, coarse and course, there and their, fare and fair, knight and night… the list goes on.
Although today, these words sound the same, there was a time when, depending on the language of origin, they may have been pronounced differently.
Since homophony depends upon pronunciation, words may be homophones in one language but not in another. For example, father and farther are homophones in British English, but not in American English.
Homophones make you stop and think. For me compliment or complement make me stop in my tracks. One means to ‘praise and show appreciation’ while the other means ‘to add to’. They’re often misspelled in English because of their subtle differences.
Here’s an example of use.
The band leader complimented her bugle playing. It complemented the event.
To remember the difference, you might make yourself a mnemonics — a pattern of letters, ideas or associations to help you remember something.
Think about this. How hard would it be to remember the letters of the alphabet without a song to go with it?
I like to get compliments. That’s why I know that ‘compliment’ with an ‘I’ is the right word to use.
Which homophones do you struggle with? How do you remember them?
A little plug for a new game called “Think. Think.” It includes a category to test your knowledge of homophones used in this quirky English. Check it out at SmartAlec-Products.com.
My writing booth. 