Every now and then while I’m writing, I come across a word that has two different spellings. The difference is usually one letter, but no matter how many times I use it, I always forget which meaning is the one I want. And writing programs like Word don’t pick it up because it’s spelled correctly. I end up dragging myself out of the writing zone because I can’t get past not knowing if it’s the right word or not. There called homonyms, but I skip labeling and just growl at my inability to discern what’s what.
For my sanity and yours, I compiled a short list of homonyms that I’ve come across over the years and caused me trouble. If you have one that should be added, leave a comment below so we can set the record straight for everyone.
Effect vs. Affect
These two are a cruel joke because they work hand in hand. One follows the other like an evil henchman of confusion, waiting for a writer to fall into their trap. And I usually do. The primary difference is in their usage.
Affect is a verb that means “to act on” or “to impress upon the mind.” Effect is a noun that means “result; consequence.” So when someone affects another person, the second person feels an effect. Affect causes effect, though don’t use it like that.
If you come across this menacing pair, read your sentence and see if it’s a verb or noun. If it’s a verb, use an A. If it’s a noun, use an E. Another trick is replacing the word with the definition. Does the definition work in the same spot? Whichever lines up best is the one to go with.
All ready vs. Already
I originally pictured this homonym as “All right vs. Alright,” but learned that those two mean the same thing. Troublesome twins that want to be tricky. Shame on them.
All ready, meaning prepared, and Already, meaning previously completed, do mean two different things. All ready is a very common phrase you would ask somebody to see if they’re prepared for the task ahead. Already is an adverb used when said task has been completed. They’re pretty tame compared to other nosy homonyms, but it’s good to sort out the basics.
Chord vs. Cord
Mentally screaming because I think I got these two mixed up. If you’re a music enthusiast, you should be safe from confusing this pair. If not, then you might be racking your brain to remember if you had an H or no H.
Cord is what most writers desire; it describe long flexible string or rope. Could also be used to describe a guitar string. Fairly different but in close proximity to chord, which is 3+ musical tones played together. One is a rope or string, the other is musical notes.
Unless somebody is playing music in your scene, forego the H. If you’re super cool and know how to describe musical crescendos, be sure to use the H when talking about the actual notes. Not the guitar strings, but the notes.
Council vs. Counsel
Like effect and affect, these two work hand in hand. Which makes them all the more frustrating. At least they’re fraternal twins and don’t have all the same letters.
Council is a gathering of people whereas counsel is advice. A council provides counsel. Don’t like that tongue twister, but it gets the point across. If the scene has a lot of people collected in one space to make decisions, they are a council. If they’re giving a verdict, it’s counsel. Or if you have a therapist or good friend giving advice, that’s also counsel.
Heroin vs. Heroine
Surprisingly, this homonym makes my VERY happy. I thought these two were spelled the same and I felt offended on behalf of all female superheroes. Don’t judge; I learn something new every day.
Heroin is the addictive narcotic while heroine is a female superhero. If its got an E, it’s a she. If not, then your character needs therapy (just sayin’). When talking about the drug, be sure to stop at N. Heroine is good for a pitch letter or synopsis since that’s where you describe the character. In this case, be sure to have an E so the agent and publisher know you feature a female protagonist, not a drug.
Led vs. Lead
Not sure how I mess this one up. Maybe because lead (hard E) and lead (soft E) are spelled the same and it doesn’t click that sometimes led is necessary.
Obviously lead with a hard E is the present tense of guiding a group, so led is the past tense of guiding a group. Lead, as in the primary element for pencils, stays the same since it’s a noun. Luckily lead doesn’t lead, so it shouldn’t be hard to avoid homonym mayhem. Just remember to use led when writing in past tense. Fixing tense changes takes a while and a lot of reading, so save yourself from headaches.
Reek vs. Wreak
A lot of my writing is just how I say/think words. Hence why my characters tend to make a lot of weird noises. So I came across this conundrum when I tried to dictate my thoughts into sentences.
Reek is the verb we associate with bad smells. “The room reeked of molding pizza.” Wreak is the verb we associate with causing harm. “The pizza wreaked havoc on my insides.” On a more scholarly note, reek means stink while wreak means cause.
Reek describes smells, but can also be used to show intensity. E.G. “He reeked of desperation.” Wreak has its usual cliché (“wreak havoc”), but can also be used to describe vengeance. While having more negative tones, these words provoke very strong feelings and can add some impact to your writing if used correctly.
Principal vs. Principle
Ah, takes me back to elementary school. When my paper got handed to me with red pen correcting my principle debacle. Truly not fun.
Principal is a person. Principle is a fundamental truth. A principal can have principles, but they’re quite different. If you have some form of leader in the education system, be sure to use AL. When describing a character’s beliefs and what they stand for, use LE.
Fazed vs. Phased
Nearly forgot these guys. That’s the issue with homonyms, you don’t realize when you have a problem until the final hour. Thankfully, we’ve got a quick list.
Fazed means disturbed and is what most writers use (“she wasn’t fazed”). Phased is carried out in gradual stages, like phases of the moon. When working with a character’s emotions, use an F. For gradual stages of actions or seasons, use PH.
Some Random Ones that Aren’t so Bothersome
Gray vs. Grey – If you use an E, it’s British English while an A is American English. The meaning doesn’t change, but it shows your education.
Axel vs. Axle – Figure-skating jump vs. the shaft connecting two wheels. Pretty sure axel can also be a kid’s name, but the figure-skating move sounds way cooler for a book.
Buy vs. By vs. Bye – Sounds like an NSYNC song (hee hee). A U (buy) is a purchase, an E (bye) is a salutation, and none (by) is preposition. Easy peasy, but still fun to look at. Like to vs. too vs. two.
Gorilla vs. Guerilla – We all know the animal (the first one), but the second is regularly paired with “warfare.” On its own, guerilla means a single member of an irregular fighting troop. So rather than the entire force, you get one.
Hoarse vs. Horse – I couldn’t help myself; I love horses. Hoarse usually describes someone’s raspy voice. Horse is an adorable animal that’s perfect for riding. :)
Mousse vs. Moose – Did it again, but hey, I love chocolate. Especially chocolate mousse. It’s an airy dessert with a smooth, fluffy texture. And then you have a moose, which I would never consider enjoying with a spoon.
Need vs. Knead – You need to knead bread dough. Both are verbs, need being a requirement and knead being a baking process. If you’ve never kneaded bread, you need to try it. It’s so much fun.
Accept vs. Except – These two could be a bigger point, but they’re pretty easy to decipher. You accept an invitation. You invite everyone except them. Accept is consent while except is rejection.
Final Thoughts
I edit all of my brothers’ papers. Have been for years. Recently, the older of the two said I was replaced by Grammarly. In his case, I’m happy (his grammar is quite atrocious). Though it does throw into question whether writers should be able to tell small differences like homonyms as technology improves and can understand words.
The answer is yes. While programs like Grammarly are super helpful, we’re still writers. We write the stories, not a computer program. Analyzing small instances like what word should be used allows us to understand the action in the scene and figure out if it’s needed or not. Computers are grammar teachers while writers are content gurus. Grammar teachers don’t look for plot holes and character development, writers do.
Don’t rely completely on autocorrect or grammar checkers. Once you do, you slowly lose the knowledge of those techniques and are unable to discern for yourself what’s right and wrong. And if computers crash or software disappears, what will you be left with? Let technology support your growing knowledge rather than replace personal learning.