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Grammar

What Are Homophones in English Grammar?

In English grammar, homophones are words that sound the same, yet, they are spelt differently and have different meanings; as a result, they are a common grammar mistake. Learn about homophones (with examples), so you can use them properly in writing.

In English grammar, homophones refer to when two (or more) words have the same sound when spoken aloud, even though they have different meanings or spellings.

Homophones are commonly confused in writing, as the different spelling can be used in the wrong context. 

Using the wrong spelling of a word can cause confusion for readers. To improve your writing, read this guide with examples of common homophones to increase your confidence in English grammar. Then, review your grammar and spelling for errors with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.

3 Types of Homophones

Homophones can be broken into smaller categories: homonyms, homographs, and heterographs

Read more about each type of homophone below or check out the chart for a quick reference:

Type of Homophone What It Is Example
Homonyms
  • Same spelling or sound similar
  • Different definitions (and sometimes different spelling)
Lie (to lay horizontally) vs. lie (not true)
Homographs
  • Same spelling
  • Different pronunciation or meaning
Trip (travel) vs. trip (to stumble)
Heterograph
  • Sound similar
  • Different spelling and meanings
Week (period of seven days) vs. weak (not strong)

Keep in mind that in some cases, homonyms can also be homographs and homonyms can also be heterographs.

1. Homonyms

Homonyms describe words that share the same spelling or sound similar but have different definitions or meanings.

Examples of homonyms:

  • Knew (to know past tense) vs. new (not old)
  • Lie (to lay horizontally) and lie (not true) 
  • Live (being alive) and live (something happening in real-time)

2. Homographs 

Homographs describe words that share the same spelling but have a different pronunciation or different meaning.

Examples of homographs include:

  • Trip (a journey) and trip (to stumble)
  • Bass (a fish) and bass (an instrument)
  • Close (nearby) and close (to shut)

In some cases, homonyms may also be homographs. For instance, in the previous example live (being alive) and live (something happening in real-time) are homonyms and homographs.

3. Heterographs

The third type of homophone is a heterograph, which describes words with different spellings and meanings that sound the same

Examples of heterographs include:

  • Son (child) and sun (the star orbited by the Earth)
  • Dear (affectionate form of address) and deer (animal)
  • Week (period of seven days) and weak (not strong)

Similar to the homographs, some heterographs can also be homonyms. For instance, going back to our homonym examples, knew (to know past tense) and new (not old), are both homonyms and heterographs.

5 Commonly Confused Homophones in English Grammar

Let’s review some of the homophones that are most often confused when writing.

1. Accept vs. Except 

Accept vs. except is a common source of confusion. “Accept” is a verb that refers to when someone receives something (like an item) voluntarily. It can also refer to giving a person admittance (such as a student applying to a school).

  • Example: The bank accepted my check.

Then, “except may be a preposition, verb, or conjunction. Typically it refers to excluding something or someone. 

  • Example: Everyone was there except Timothy.

2. Its vs. It’s

Its and it’s are easy to confuse with each other because they sound the same and their spelling is very similar. 

Its” is a possessive determiner, which demonstrates belonging.

  • Example: The cat licked its paw.

Then, “it’s” is a contraction; the apostrophe replaces the letter ‘i’ in is or the ‘ha’ in has. It means “it is” or “it has.” 

  • Example: It’s Sunday tomorrow.

3. Your vs. You’re

Like it’s vs. its, your and you’re sound very similar and also have very close spelling (just slightly different).

Your is a possessive determiner; it means that a person, thing, or group belongs to or is related to a particular person.

  • Example: You have to call your mother this week.

Then, “you’re” is a contraction, once again with an apostrophe replacing a letter, this time the ‘a’ in are; it means “you are.”

  • Example: You’re in my way!

4. They’re vs Their vs. There

They’re” (like it’s and you’re) is a contraction; it means “they are.”

  • Example: They’re coming for dinner at 6:30.

Then, “their” is a possessive determiner, it refers to belonging or relating to something or someone. 

  • Example: The students pulled out their notebooks.

There” is an adverb, that describes a location or place where someone or something is.

  • Example: I left my purse over there by the bookcase.

5. Right vs. Right vs. Write

Right” is an adjective; it is a word that describes when a situation or something is true.

  • Example: How many questions did you get right?

Right” (same spelling as the adjective) is an adverb; it refers to a direction.

  • Example: Turn right at the library.

Write” is a verb. It refers to the action of putting letters, words, or numbers on a page.

  • Example: The lawyer must write a lengthy report before Monday.

More Examples of Homophones

  • affect/effect
  • than/then
  • hear/here
  • by/buy/bye
  • to/two/too
  • cell/sell
  • ate/eight
  • waste/waist
  • bare/bear
  • flour/flower
  • weather/whether
  • which/witch
  • sea/see
  • sight/site
  • sole/soul
  • break/brake
  • tale/tail
  • steel/steal
  • bail/bale
  • plain/plane
  • meet/meat
  • pray/prey

Final Thoughts

Homophones are easy to mistake and a common source of confusion in grammar because they sound so similar.

Taking the time to learn what homophones are and their different types (homonyms, homographs, and heterographs) is key to understanding what each word means. That way, you can use them correctly and avoid common grammar errors.

Use a dictionary or grammar checker to help you determine the correct word in the context of your writing.

Learn more about grammar in our resources:

Alyssa English

Alyssa English is a writer focused on B2C content for writers and teachers. As a certified ESL instructor, Alyssa is passionate about language and communication. She’s familiar with the grammatical conventions of and distinctions between Canadian, American, and British English.

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