Homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings: ⟦see⟧ and ⟦sea⟧, ⟦to⟧, ⟦too⟧ and ⟦two⟧. When you listen you can't tell them apart, so when you write you must think about the meaning to choose the right spelling.

Key facts

  • ⟦there⟧ is a place (⟦over there⟧) or starts ⟦there is⟧; ⟦their⟧ means belonging to them (⟦their coats⟧); ⟦they're⟧ is short for ⟦they are⟧.
  • ⟦to⟧ shows direction or comes before a verb (⟦go to school⟧, ⟦to swim⟧); ⟦too⟧ means also or more than is good (⟦too hot⟧); ⟦two⟧ is the number 2.
  • ⟦your⟧ means belonging to you; ⟦you're⟧ is short for ⟦you are⟧. ⟦its⟧ means belonging to it; ⟦it's⟧ is short for ⟦it is⟧ or ⟦it has⟧.
  • An apostrophe test: if you can say the two full words (⟦they are⟧, ⟦you are⟧, ⟦it is⟧), write the short form with the apostrophe.
  • Memory tricks help: you ⟦hear⟧ with your ⟦ear⟧; ⟦stationery⟧ has ⟦e⟧ for envelopes; a ⟦piece⟧ of ⟦pie⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Choose ⟦there⟧, ⟦their⟧ or ⟦they're⟧: ⟦The children put on ___ coats.⟧

  1. The coats belong to the children: belonging to them.
  2. Belonging to them is ⟦their⟧.
  3. ⟦The children put on their coats.⟧

Answer: ⟦their⟧: ⟦The children put on their coats.⟧

Example 2

Choose ⟦to⟧, ⟦too⟧ or ⟦two⟧: ⟦This tea is ___ hot to drink.⟧

  1. Is it the number 2? No. Is it a direction? No.
  2. It means more hot than is good, so it is ⟦too⟧.
  3. ⟦This tea is too hot to drink.⟧

Answer: ⟦too⟧: ⟦This tea is too hot to drink.⟧

Example 3

Choose ⟦its⟧ or ⟦it's⟧: ⟦___ raining, so take an umbrella.⟧

  1. Try the full words: ⟦It is raining⟧. That makes sense.
  2. So we write the short form with an apostrophe: ⟦It's⟧.

Answer: ⟦It's⟧: ⟦It's raining, so take an umbrella.⟧

Example 4

Find and correct the mistake: ⟦I can here the birds singing.⟧

  1. ⟦here⟧ means in this place, but the sentence is about listening.
  2. Listening with your ears is ⟦hear⟧ (it has ⟦ear⟧ in it).
  3. ⟦I can hear the birds singing.⟧

Answer: ⟦I can hear the birds singing.⟧