The English language is full of homophones, words that sound the same but mean different things.
10 homophones to avoid
When you get it wrong you can end up in a right pickle.Here are my top ten homophones, to help you avoid silly mistakes.
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Affect – your wild facial hair affects the way people feel about you. Effect – your hairstyle is having a disturbing effect on my libido
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Complement – your knowledge complements mine perfectly because we know about different things. Compliment – I’d like to give you a compliment; you look gorgeous
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Stationary – I am definitely not speeding. My car isn’t moving, it’s completely stationary. Stationery – I need more office stationery. I must stock up on Post-It notes before the world ends
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Discreet – I’d like you to be discreet about my love affair. Discrete – I’m separating my life into two discrete parts that’ll never, ever clash
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Duel – I’ll challenge you to a duel and we’ll fight to the death. Dual – thank goodness my driving instructor’s car has dual steering
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Principal – The school Principal bit me. Principle – I will never forgive her, it’s the principle of the thing
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Your – Your nose is redder than mine. You’re – You’re the proud owner of a big, fat, red nose
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Too – shut up, your tantrums are too much for me. To – take me to your local police station, I need locking up for my own safety
- There – Look, there’s your mum and dad riding naked on a horse. Their – I know, their behaviour is absolutely dreadful
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Bare – my backside is bare. Bear – I can’t bear the colour blue… it’s nasty. Bear – Watch out, there’s a bea…!
