Avoid Common Homonym Errors [Ian's Messy Desk]

Posted in Communication

Nothing obscures the message in a written piece as much as grammatical errors. Here are some homonyms—pairs of words with the same pronunciation but different meanings—that are often misused in writing.

Affect, Effect

Affect is a verb meaning to influence.

“Cold weather can affect the health of elderly people.”

Effect is most often used as a noun, meaning result.

“The medicine had an immediate effect.”

In formal English, effect can be used as a verb, meaning to bring about or execute.

“The election results will effect a transfer of power.”

It’s, Its

It’s is the contraction for it is or it has.

“It’s a girl!” or “It’s been raining for three days.”

Its is a pronoun, the possessive form of it.

“The dog wagged its tail.”

There, Their, They’re

There is an adverb indicating place (literally or figuratively).

“Go there at once.” or “You have completed enough of the test; you may stop there.”

Their is a pronoun, the possessive form of they.

“They like their school and do their lessons well.”

They’re is a contraction of they are.

“They’re spending the holidays at home.”

To, Two, Too

To is either a preposition

“Will you come to the dance?”

or part of an infinitive

“To sleep, perchance to dream”

Two is the number.

Too is either a substitute for “also”

“I like caffeine too”

or an expression of degree

“This is too difficult to understand”

Who’s,Whose

Who’s is a contraction of who is.

“Who’s in charge here?”

Whose is a pronoun, the possessive form of who and which.

“Whose shoes are under the couch?”

You’re,Your

You’re is a contraction of you are.

“You’re one of the finalists in the spelling bee.”

Your is a pronoun, the possessive form of you.

“Your car is covered with dust from the construction site.”

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Original post here: Ian McKenzie

27 May 2008 | Communication | Comments