English Toolkit

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26.2Commonly confused virtual homophones
TYPICAL ERROR If tomorrow is no hotter then today, then we will not go to the beach.
CORRECTION If tomorrow is no hotter than today, then we will not go to the beach.

EXPLANATION In Greek homo means the same and phonos means sound. Homophones are words that sound the same: for example, steel and steal. However, sometimes lazy pronunciation or poor hearing can lead to the confusion of words that are actually slightly different. Some people, for example, tend to make no distinction between such words as then (which rhymes with hen) and than (which rhymes with tan), but these should be pronounced differently.

If we mix up such similar words, normally we can sort them out if we make an effort to pronounce the words differently.

Work out how each of the following words is pronounced differently. Once you have sorted out how the words are pronounced differently and what the difference in meaning is, choose the correct word to insert into each of the sentences given.
a
accept (sounds like axe-cept); except (sounds like ex-cept as in exception)
i. Please
this gift as a token of our appreciation.

ii. We have packed everything for the trip
the sleeping bags.

accept

except



b
affect (a verb; something affects something); effect (noun; the effect is ...)
i. If you fertilise your lawn with this fertiliser, you should notice the
within a few days.

ii. High humidity is likely to
the stamina of marathon runners.

affect

effect



c
angel (rhymes with gel; a heavenly creature); angle (rhymes with dangle; a right angle)
i. Rachel put the paper
at the top of the Christmas tree.

ii. We photographed the waterfall from every
possible.

angel

angle



d
breath (Save your breath!); breathe (Breathe in; breathe out!)
i. After racing up the hill, we were all out of
.

ii. We could
easier once the restrictions were lifted.

breath

breathe



e
choose (rhymes with whose); chose (rhymes with goes)
i. In the past, parents often
a marriage partner for their child.

ii. Today, it is more common for people to
their own partner.

choose

chose



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