italki - Homophones - How to remember which is which? Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation b

Zach

Homophones - How to remember which is which?

Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but have different spellings and multiple meanings. Obviously, because of context, this won't matter when speaking. But, in an essay, an e-mail, or anytime you're writing these will "stick out like a sore thumb."

1. Write & Right: I've always taught my students the saying, "Willy Wonka writes (WWW) with his right hand. This sequence of W's should help you out next time you're confused about the spelling.

--Some other uses for right:

---- While learning a new language you have to stop worrying about being right all the time.

---- My house is up ahead on the right.

---- The United States and Canada share a border, right?

---- Women didn't have the right to vote until 1920.

---- What are you doing right now?

2. New & Knew: If you knew something that means you had Knowledge of it. K for knowledge, K for Knew.

---- Did you hear that the new iPhone will have Face ID? I knew about that last week!

3. Ate & Eight: think about elephants eating eggs!

---- Each elephant ate eight eggs. (E.E.A.E.E.)

4. Hear & Here: Think about your ear(s). You need your ear in order to hEAR something!

---- Did you hear about what they're going to build here?

---- I'll be here all day long.

---- Here's what I've been looking for.

---- Here, I'll hold it while you talk on the phone.

5. Weather & Whether:

--Weather: think about eating!

---- When the wEATher is nice, I like to eat outside.

--wHEtHER: think about he and her, this word is usually used to talk about differences between things, like boys and girls - he and her, or if something is going to happen or not.

---- Do you know whether the dog is a he or a her?

---- Do you know whether he is coming or not? No, he is going to see her instead.

---- I'm going to the park whether the weather is good or bad!

Can you think of any other homophones that are commonly mistaken for each other?

Jun 7, 2018 7:13 AM

Comments · 2

May I ask why you wrote "whether the dog is a he or a her"? Why not "a he and a she" or "a him and a her"? I'm just a little bit confused.

As regards homophones, I can think of "waste" and "waist", "wring" and "ring".

June 7, 2018