Homophones and Usage Errors What does homophone mean

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 / 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 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/ 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.