Homphones

The English language is often a confusing place to wander in. For instance, we come across words that sound alike but have different meanings (homophones) or words that have similar meanings but specific rules for using one word over the other.

Here’s a few for some clarification.

Lose = misplace
Loose = shaky or set free

May be = it is possible that
Maybe = possibly

Affect = to alter or influence
Effect = result of

Sit = be seated
Set = to place something.

Farther = distance
Further = additional

Whose = indicates possession
Who’s = contraction of it is.

Their = possessive form of they
There = adverb –nothing to do with people
They’re = contraction of they are

Accept = to receive
Except = to exclude

Advice = noun—an opinion
Advise = verb—to offer

Principal = main person or thing
Principle = fundamental rule or truth

Anyone = any person at all
Any one = one of a group

Everyone = every person
Every one = all of a group

Assure = to state with confidence
Ensure = to make sure
Insure = to make sure to protect against loss

Imply = suggest without actually saying so
Infer = draw a conclusion based on evidence

Elicit = to bring out
Illicit = illegal

Explicit = expressed directly
Implicit = implied

Lay = to put or place something
Lie = to rest or recline

Here is a link to some more of these tricky little words.