Grammar Help: Homophones

So which one do you use and when? Or perhaps you’re wondering: Does it really matter? It is true that in today’s computerized society many people don’t care whether an online friend types out effect when they actually meant affect. Many people might miss the error completely because they are unaware that it is a mistake. In fact it is a rather serious one if you are in the writing business.

Much Ado About Nothing?

In Shakespeare’s comedy play Much Ado about Nothing, a character by the name of Dogberry is a constant source of humor. While trying to impress the people around him, Dogberry uses words that he believes make him sound intelligent, but his efforts end up backfiring. Dogberry provides a classic example of malapropism. Malapropism is defined as a comical misuse of a word when it is confused with another word with a similar sound. In Dogberry’s case the comedic effect is obvious and paints him as a well-meaning but foolish man.

Examples of Malapropism:

• “Welcome to my humble commode.” The proper word is of course abode.
• "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." Two words are misused and should be replaced with apprehended and suspicious.
• "Many people are morally opposed to intravenous fertilization." Here the writer should have used in vitro.

Notice that malapropisms happen with similar-sounding words. The similar sound allows and even encourages confusion between two words with completely different meanings. In the misuse of homophones the confusion intensifies with the fact that these words are not simply “similar-sounding,” but may actually be identical when spoken aloud.

In the example of then/than as well as to, two, and too, only the spelling differs. In other common homophones such as affect/effect and except/accept the pronunciation differences can be lost completely.

Be Aware and Beware of Same and Similar Sounding Words

Although in the everyday world homophones and malapropisms are forgiven, in the writing industry, and in business or academic papers they can make or break the writer. In a student’s report a wrong word can lower a grade and in a business document it lowers credibility. A misused word in a cover letter to a book publisher or agent could determine acceptance or rejection for a freelance writer.

A simple tip for keeping same and similar-sounding words straight: Think like an editor. Become familiar with the homophones and their specific meanings. In doing this you will be able to see the misused words by their varied definitions rather than by their identical sounds.

For Instance:

• “Joey is coming to.” To is incorrect here because it is a preposition, a linking word. Unless to is corrected as too, the sentence is incomplete.
• “She is stronger then me.” Than should be used here because it is used to compare things. Then is a term referring to time.
• “There dog is barking.” There is a place word, you can remember it because it has the word here in it. In this sentence the correct word is the possessive term their.
• “I excepted his offer.” Accepted is the right word in this sentence because it is a verb that means “to receive.” Except is incorrect as it is a preposition meaning “to exclude.”

With practice, a little bit of patience, and time, you can learn to straighten out even the trickiest of those homophones. It is almost a guarantee that you will mix up these pesky words at one time or another, but knowing and understanding the mistake is most of the battle. You can take pride in knowing that your writing, wherever you send it and whatever the topic, is grammatically correct and doesn’t resemble Dogberry in the least.

English scrabbles the best of us

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