There, Their, They're... Homonyms aren't that bad!

Common writing mistakes involve our tendency to use our ears more than our eyes. Homonyms are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things.

Believe it or not, I was in a math class when a teacher brought up the point that people focus on the v-sound in the word "of" rather than the visual aspect of the letter f. The point was proven when she presented a sentence and asked us to read it and count the number of fs. A lot of students fell short of the right count because they didn't count the "f" in "of".

When writers use There, Their or Their in the wrong way, they tend to simply write what they're hearing. Here are a few common homonyms that plague writers on all levels and enrage critical readers. Let's break 'em down.

THERE          I am here and you are there.   (Here, there, where are words relating to a place)

                      There must be a reason.         (There is pointing to or indicating something)

THEIR           Their car is on fire.                 (Not my car but their car. Their indicates ownership)

THEY'RE      They're looking for trouble.    (They're = They are.)

There you go. But be mindful that you may very well write it wrong even when you know the difference. How do you survive? Go back and proofread! As cliche as that is that's what you must do. Find for mistakes. Because even the most seasoned writers, in all their wisdom, use their ears rather than their eyes on the first, second and even third draft.

Here are some more dreadful homonyms for you diehards out there:

TWO            I'd like two tickets to paradise.                          (a number; 2; how many fingers?)

TOO             I'm having too much fun.                                  (excessive amount of fun)

                     Me too.                                                              (as well, also)

TO                To be, or not to be.                                            (pretty much everything else)

YOUR         Your dog smells funny.                                        (Your dog not mine. Own it)

YOU'RE      You're smelling like your dog.                             (You're = You are)

YORE         In the days of yore, you smelled like a flower.    (Long ago, you smelled fine)

ITS              Its orange color makes it look like an orange.     (Its color not yours. Ownership)

IT'S             It's smelly.                                                             (It's = It is)

EXCEPT    Everyone except you.                                            (Exclusively exclusive)

ACCEPT    I accept your apology.                                           (Yes, I'll take it! I agree!)

*They sound a lot alike, but not really. They're mistaken quite often though.

The key is editing. If you write it once and get everything right wonderful, but with pride comes a fall. If you are human, you'll make mistakes sooner or later. So check it before you send it. Whether it's a post that is supposed to make you look smart, an assignment to a teacher, or a text to a friend, you'll look a lot better if it's done right.

Now go back and count the number of "f"s in this entire blog post. First one to get it right and places the answer in the comments section below will receive a gift. All participants must subscribe.