Homophones and Usage Errors

• What does homophone mean? Use your word roots.

• We looked at them last year, but it is time to review.

• Take some notes.

Definition

Homophones are works that sound the same but have different meanings.

•Example: Goosebumps stood on my bare arms when I saw the bear in the woods.

● Homo=same● Phone=sound

Your / You’re

Your is the possessive form of you. You’re is a contraction of you are.

•What was your record in the fifty-yard dash?•You’re one of the winners of the essay contest.

There / they’re / their

There is the location. They’re is a contraction of they are. Their shows who it belongs to.

• All the campers returned to their cabins.• I keep my card collection there in those folders.• Lisa and Beth run daily; they’re on the track team.

Where / Were / We’re

Where indicates location. Were is the past tense verb of TO BE. We’re is a contraction of we are.

• Lindblom, where I go to school, is awesome.• We were sad summer ended, but it is fun to see our

friends.• We’re really close because of the things we went

through together last year.

To / Too / Two

To means “toward” or “in the direction of.” Too means “also” or “very.”  Two is the number 2.

•We went to the mall.•It’s too risky riding without a helmet.•Two amusement parks are offering reduced rates for admission.

Then / Than

Than is used to introduce the second part of a comparison. Then means “next in order.”

•Ramon is stronger than Mark.•Cut the grass and then trim the hedges.

Its / It’s

Its is a possessive pronoun. It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.

•Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza.•It’s great weather for a picnic.

Affect / Effect

Affect is a verb that means “to move or influence.” Effect as a noun means “a consequence or result.”

• Learning about the Holocaust affected him deeply.• What effect did the acidic soil produce in the plants?

Accept / Except

Accept means “to agree to something” or “to receive something willingly.” Except means “not including.”

•Did Mr. Bradley accept your late project?•Everyone smiled for the photographer except Jody.

Principal / Principle

Principal means “of chief or central importance” and refers to the head of a school. Principle means “a basic truth, standard, or rule of behavior.”

•Lack of customers is the principal reason for closing the store.•Mr. Mather is the principal of Lindblom.•One of my principles is to be honest with others.

A lot/ Allot/ Alot

A lot means a great quantity. Allot means to assign or designate something. Alot is not a word.

•I have a lot of homework.•The king will allot the land to his subjects.

Why it matters.

• Educated people work hard to learn these rules and use them correctly. If you make a usage error in an essay, professional email, job application or other important document, people might take your ideas less seriously.