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Even though you probably learned all about homonyms in elementary school, you can still have trouble choosing the correct word for a sentence sometimes. Homonyms are words which are pronounced the same but have different meanings and different spellings. Homonyms are NOT detected by spell check, so don’t look for your computer to weed out incorrect homonyms for you when you’re finishing up a manuscript to submit to your editor.

Even people with advanced degrees sometimes misuse homonyns. Don’t let that happen to you. You’ll lose credibility with editors and they won’t give you the writing assignments you’re after.

Here are some of the more common homonyms that writers have trouble with:

ITS - shows possession and answers the question “whose?” The dog chased its tail.

IT’S - is a contraction of “it is.” It’s a beautiful day.

LOSE - means to misplace something. Did you lose your car keys?

LOOSE - means not tight, to set free. She wore a loose blouse over her blue denim skirt.

TO - can be used -

1) as a preposition to link words: John went to the store.

2) as an infinitive form of the verb: Mary likes to sing.

TOO - Can be used to -

(1) refer to quantity: He put too much food on his plate.

(2) mean also: Henry is hungry, too.

TWO - is the number two. We had two tests at school today.

THERE can -

1) indicate direction: Your brother is over there.

2) be used as the subject: There are some beautiful birds in that tree.

THEIR - shows possession. That is their car.

THEY’RE - is a contraction of “they are.” They’re coming to our house for dinner tonight.

WHOSE - shows possession. Whose car is in our driveway?

WHO’S - is a contraction of “who is.” Who’s the editor of the school newspaper?

YOUR - shows possession. Those are your muddy footprints.

YOU’RE - is a contraction of “you are.” You’re lazy today.

Visit funbrain.com to test your understanding of other basic homonyms. Then make a list of all of these homonyms so you don’t confuse them when you’re writing. As a writer, words are your business. If you don’t know your business, you’ll lose credibility with editors and, as a result, many interesting writing assignments.