Have you ever experienced the anxiety of wanting to use the correct word in a sentence and mistakenly used another that sounds the same? This is not a good look when writing for business. If your aim is to present a professional organisation, what impression do you think you would you give if your choice of words lessens the appearance of that professionalism?
This is where it is important to know about homonyms.
What are homonyms?
Homonyms are words that sound like other words but their spelling and meaning are different.
Examples of homonyms
The following is a list of 15 pairs of words in which the first is often mistakenly used for the second one. A short definition, which is not comprehensive, is also included for each of the words to help you distinguish which you should be using and in what context.
| Homonyn | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | add | increase |
| ad | abbreviation for advertisement | |
| 2 | aid | help |
| aide | one who helps | |
| 3 | cannon | piece of artillery |
| canon | collection of works | |
| 4 | conscious | aware |
| conscience | adherence to or regard for fairness or moral strength | |
| 5 | council | deliberative or legislative body |
| counsel | legal adviser | |
| 6 | discrete | separate |
| discreet | modest, prudent, unobtrusive | |
| 7 | flare | signal fire or light |
| flair | style or talent | |
| 8 | forward | in the direction one is facing or travelling |
| foreword | brief introductory section of a book | |
| 9 | isle | a small island or peninsular |
| aisle | passage between groups of seats | |
| 10 | premier | a political leader |
| premiere | the first performance of a musical or theatrical work or the first showing of a film | |
| 11 | principal | leader of a school, or a leading person in an organisation |
| principle | code, idea or law | |
| 12 | roll | list or other document, move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis |
| role | function, or character or part played | |
| 13 | tenant | a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord |
| tenent | something generally held to be true | |
| 14 | team | a group organised to achieve a goal |
| teem | be filled to overflowing | |
| 15 | troop | unit of military personnel |
| troupe | group of performers |
Do you find homonyms challenging? Share with us your challenging words.
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