Did you know that the English language has lots of HOMOPHONES?
These words are an annoying part of the English language, and uou wouldn’t notice these at all when you are talking. However, they can cause embarrassment and frustration when writing down and spelling!
So, what is a homophone? These are words that sound the same!
A few examples…
- Sole and soul
- Meet and meat
- Their and there
- Break and brake
- Your and you’re
- To, two, and too
Each row of words sounds same, but they are spelt differently. This is because they have different meanings. In a world where we often type, autocorrect can be partly to blame. Being aware of what you want to say when you are writing down and thinking about the meaning of what you are trying to say can help. I know I often make errors when writing, and most of the time I pick it up in a proofread, but if you read my posts you will know I don’t always manage it! It’s one of the things which can feel humiliating and generate shame, especially if you are oblivious to homophones even existing!
When we teach spelling it’s so important that we teach the meanings of words too. It can help us make a choice about which word to use and encourage us to develop independent thinking!