Shoe and shoo are two words that are pronounced the same way but have different spellings and different meanings. They are homophones. We will look at the definitions of the words shoe and shoo, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences. A shoe is a covering for a foot, usually made out of leather, cloth, rubber or plastic. The oldest shoe yet uncovered is a 5,000-year-old leather shoe discovered in Armenia. It was a …
Rhyme and rime are yet another set of pesky homophones that cause mass confusion in the English language. To the ear, they’re identical. But to the eye, spelling matters because their definitions are so far apart and can change the meaning of an entire sentence. So, let’s dig down to the nitty-gritty of rhyme and rime and see how you’re supposed to use each one. Rime vs. Rhyme While rhyme relates to poetic structure, rime has a different use. It’s …
Sink and sync are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will look at the definitions of the words sink and sync, where the terms come from and some examples of their use in sentences. The noun form of the word sink designates a fixed basin with a tap that supplies water and a drain to drain away the water. Used as a verb sink means …
Sachet and sashay are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings. We will look at the difference in meanings between sachet and sashay, where the terms come from and some examples of their use in sentences. A sachet is a small, soft pouch that contains dried materials with a pleasant scent. Sachets are often placed in drawers in order to keep clothes smelling pleasant and to deter moths. Some common …
Sac and sack are two words that are pronounced the same way but have different spellings and different meanings. Sac and sack are homophones. We will look at the definitions of the words sac and sack, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences. A sac is a membrane shaped like a pouch that is part of a living thing. A sac is a hollow and flexible part of a plant or animal. Such a …
Cantor and canter are two words that are spelled and pronounced similarly, but have two different meanings. We will look at the definitions of the words cantor and canter, where they come from and some examples of their use in sentences. A cantor is a man whose job it is to sing and lead the prayers at synagogue. In modern times, a cantor has usually attended a cantorial school and is trained in musicality, he is an ordained member of …
The words fairy and ferry are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have two very different meanings. We will look at the definitions of the words fairy and ferry, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences. A fairy is a supernatural being with magical powers in European folklore, especially Irish and Scottish folklore. A fairy is a miniature human being, usually female, who is often depicted with wings. Some think that …
Wrote and rote are two words that are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have different definitions. We will look at the difference in meaning between the words wrote and rote, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences. Wrote is the past tense of the word write, which means to make symbols on a surface, usually paper, with a pen, pencil, crayon or other writing implement. Write also means to compose …
Taupe and tope are two words that are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will examine the definitions of the words taupe and tope, the origins of these two words and some examples of their use in sentences. Taupe is a neutral color, a grayish color with brown mixed into it. Taupe was named as a color around the turn of the twentieth century. The word taupe is derived from …
Tough and tuff are two words that are pronounced the same way but have different spellings and very different meanings. They are homophones. We will look at the definitions of the words tough and tuff, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Tough means strong, able to endure and cope with difficult conditions or pain, or describes someone who is prone to violence. Tough may also describe someone who has little empathy or is …