Blog

Homonyms – Did You Sea/See Them Their/There?
Friday, January 8, 2021 by Cindy Sproles

I love editors. They are a breed all their own. A bit OCD and leaning toward a perfectionist’s mentality, they are the eyes that make our writing spotless. Clean. Grammatically. . . spit-shined. Without them, many of us would be – well, let’s just say, we wouldn’t look as good as we do. But, if you want to have some fun with an editor, mess with a homonym and watch their eyes begin to roll.

Homonyms are, in some ways, tricky, but for the most part, it’s our lack of attention to them that causes us to look bad. Really bad. A writer’s fingers key faster than their brains work and it happens. The wrong word is chosen. Even Microsoft Word in all its glory can only search for misspelled words. In the case of a homonym, the words aren’t misspelled making spell check useless. This is when due diligence is important.

I recently reviewed a critique at a conference. This is what I saw:

She called there home. Sent them notes. But it wasn’t until Meg knocked on there door to bare her indiscretions, that Jon realized her fear.

Those pesky homonyms reared their ugly heads and in this case, made an advanced writer look sloppy.

Some homonyms are easily confused, such as bear and bare especially when portions of their meaning are similar.

Bear – an animal; give testimony (bear false witness); give birth
Bare – to support or uphold; naked; basic and simple

Then there are those homonyms that prove to be writer laziness or unwillingness to proof and correct. For example: Their – possessive case of they; belonging to, and there – a place.

Whatever the case, homonyms are basic mechanics in writing and a vital part of the self-editing process. Practice due diligence and professionalism in your writing by watching carefully for homonyms.

Below is a short list of commonly misused homonyms. Check out www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html for a more complete listing.

there – a place    OR    their – relating or belonging to

capital – most important   OR    capitol – center of government

discreet – confidential   OR    discrete – individual

threw – to propel by hand  OR  through – from end to end

too – also    OR    to – toward

pare– cut down   OR   pair – set of two

reign – sovereign rule    OR    rein – horse’s steering wheel

wreak – to inflict    OR    reek – to smell

elude – to escape   OR   illude – to deceive

then – past    OR    than – comparison

Share This Blog:


Mountain Breeze Writer


Previous Posts

Deep and Wide or Sick and Tired?
Cindy Sproles
12/18/2023

What Would Jesus Do?
Cindy Sproles
11/10/2023

Chick, Chick, Chick
Cindy K. Sproles
9/30/2023

In My Inperfections
Cindy K. Sproles
8/27/2023

By the Hair of my Chinny, Chin, Chin
Cindy Sproles
7/21/2023

What Dumb Cluck!
Cindy K. Sproles
6/29/2023

Where to Draw the Line?
Cindy Sproles
4/27/2023

Submit! ME?
Cindy Sproles
4/14/2023

Why Are People So Mean?
Cindy Sproles
3/30/2023

I'm Getting Old
Cindy K. Sproles
3/3/2023

To Hear or Not to Hear
Cindy Sproles
1/28/2023

Happy New Year, Happy New Year News
Cindy Sproles
1/9/2023

Happy Neuter Year
Cindy Sproles
12/31/2022

Facing Reality - Aging Parents, Aging Children
Cindy Sproles
12/30/2022

Word of the Year for 2023
Cindy Sproles
12/24/2022

My Grown Up Christmas List - Three Things to Adulting the Right Way
Cindy Sproles
12/13/2022

Weebles Wobble but They Don't Fall Down
Cindy Sproles
12/6/2022

The Man In the Middle
Cindy Sproles
11/24/2022

Diversity is More Than Color
Cindy K. Sproles
11/14/2022

Love in Motion
Cindy Sproles
11/7/2022

Deadbeat or Deadline
Cindy Sproles
10/31/2022

Backstory - The Reader Doesn't Care!
Cindy Sproles
10/18/2022

The Color of Scared - The Final in Seeking Spiritual Renewal
Cindy Sproles
10/14/2022

The Color of Scared - Second of Three in Seeking Spiritual Freedom from Fear
Cindy Sproles
10/9/2022

The Color of Scared - First of Three in Seeking Spiritual Freedom from Fear
Cindy Sproles
10/3/2022

Fog, Mist, Morning
Cindy Sproles
9/29/2022

From a Rooster to a Hen
Cindy Sproles
9/24/2022

Writing from the Hip
Cindy Sproles
9/19/2022

Soggy Scrubby and the Long Goodbye
Cindy Sproles
9/13/2022

Wramping Up for ACWC
Cindy Sproles
9/10/2022

Rest Not, Want MORE!
Cindy Sproles
9/3/2022

Reality for Me
Cindy Sproles
8/17/2022

The Truth in Publishing
Cindy Sproles
8/11/2022

Beyond
Cindy Sproles
8/4/2022

Working with an Editor
Cindy Sproles
7/7/2022

Two on the Way
Cindy Sproles
2/26/2022

The Party's Overrrrr!
Cindy Sproles
2/22/2022

2022 Encouragement for the Writer
Cindy Sproles
1/4/2022

Every Day is New
Cindy Sproles
1/1/2022

Beginning Anew (An Eldercare Note)
Cindy Sproles
12/31/2021

Five Ways to Kill Your Publishing Opportunity
Cindy Sproles
12/30/2021

A Dollar Wisely Spent
Cindy Sproles
12/28/2021

Silent Night
Cindy Sproles
12/25/2021

Back Pocket Projects
Cindy Sproles
12/21/2021

Things are Back on Track - I think!
Cindy Sproles
12/18/2021

Wonky is Hard
Cindy Sproles
4/25/2021

Present Yourself Approved and Professional
Cindy Sproles
1/28/2021

Integrity - An Authors Valued Trait
Cindy Sproles
1/8/2021

Homonyms – Did You Sea/See Them Their/There?
Cindy Sproles
1/8/2021

Writer Self-Care - Welcome 2021
Cindy Sproles
1/4/2021

Hope in a New Year
Cindy Sproles
1/1/2021

One More Christmas Thought - Taken from ChristianDevotions.US blog
Cindy Sproles
12/25/2020

A Christmas Saga - Joy in the Season
Cindy Sproles
12/24/2020

When Writing Grows Hard
Cindy Sproles
12/22/2020

Permission to Quit - No Way
Cindy Sproles
12/18/2020

The Power of the Pen
Cindy Sproles
12/15/2020

The Good, The Bad, and the Memoir
Cindy Sproles
12/11/2020

The Immeasurable Power in You
Cindy Sproles
12/8/2020

Scratch It Till It Bleeds
Cindy Sproles
12/5/2020

Closing Up Shop - Renting or Selling Our Parent's Home
Cindy Sproles
9/5/2020

Humility in Writing
Cindy Sproles
7/7/2020

Let it Percolate
Cindy Sproles
7/3/2020

Mentoring - A Wise Choice
Cindy Sproles
6/29/2020

Divorce My Words?
Cindy Sproles
6/23/2020

Icy Self-Talk Will Freeze Your Writing
Cindy Sproles
6/19/2020

The Power in You
Cindy Sproles
6/16/2020

Waiting
Cindy Sproles
6/12/2020

Who Really Sells Your Books
Cindy Sproles
6/9/2020

Social Media When You Aren't Social Media Minded
Cindy Sproles
4/20/2020

What Really Is Important
Cindy Sproles
4/12/2020

In the Midst of Chaos
Cindy Sproles
3/17/2020

The Heart of God
Cindy Sproles
2/14/2020

Writing in a Pickle
Cindy Sproles
1/30/2020

The Adult Day Care Alternative
Cindy Sproles
1/23/2020

Social Media Blitz
Cindy Sproles
1/19/2020

The Joys of Aging
Cindy Sproles
12/30/2019

The Reality of Who We Are?
Cindy Sproles
12/22/2019

Publishing Trends
Cindy Sproles
11/30/2019

Be Thankful ANYWAY
Cindy Sproles
11/28/2019

Writing Your Mission Statement
Cindy Sproles
11/19/2019

Perseverance to Write
Cindy
11/16/2019

Common Sense Tips for When You Write
Cindy Sproles
11/9/2019

The Battle is Fought
Cindy
10/15/2019

Twelve Tidbits of Wisdom from Top Christian Writers
Cindy Sproles
10/5/2019

Pray with Fire
Cindy Sproles
10/3/2019

The Easy In
Cindy Sproles
9/24/2019

The Art of Self-Editing
Cindy Sproles
9/10/2019

Questions, Questions
Cindy Sproles
9/6/2019

15-Minute Appointments - Important Networking
Cindy Sproles
9/3/2019

Don't Close Your Eyes - Bob Hostetler
Cindy Sproles
2/5/2019

Love Your Faculty
Cindy Sproles
10/17/2018

Forging Ahead after Rejection
Cindy Sproles
7/17/2018

cindysproles.com Privacy Policy
Cindy Sproles
6/4/2018

Closing Up Shop - Guiding Seniors to Letting Go
Cindy Sproles
4/9/2018

Publishing Naysayers
Cindy Sproles
3/16/2018

In Prayer - I Write
Cindy Sproles
3/3/2018

Keep Them Reading
Cindy Sproles
1/12/2018

Encouraged - Even When . . .
Cindy Sproles
1/2/2018

Christmas Tears
Cindy Sproles
12/18/2017

Holiday Elder Care - Be an Elder Elf
Cindy Sproles
11/12/2017

Grateful for a Dream I Didn't Know I Had
Cindy Sproles
11/9/2017

Keep Them Reading
Cindy Sproles
11/1/2017

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Writer Call Out
Cindy Sproles
10/27/2017

Five Ways to Assure Your Work will Find the Slush Pile
Cindy Sproles
10/24/2017

23rd Psalm Revisited
Cindy Sproles
10/21/2017

Contentment in Writing
Cindy Sproles
10/19/2017

5 Common Sense Tips to Better Writing
Cindy Sproles
10/10/2017

Overshadowed
Cindy Sproles
8/21/2017

Chicken Soup for the Soul Callout - Stories about Love
Cindy Sproles
8/21/2017

Five Keys to Overcoming Rejection
Cindy Sproles
8/12/2017

Writing Call Out - Chicken Soup for the Soul
Cindy Sproles
8/10/2017

When Words of Encouragement Wane
Cindy Sproles
6/28/2017

Writing Truth with Love
Cindy Sproles
1/13/2017

Oh To Be A Writer
Cindy Sproles
1/4/2017

Why Write?
Cindy Sproles
1/1/2017

Scammed
Cindy Sproles
6/21/2016

The Pain of Unsolicited
Cindy Sproles
3/9/2016

Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage
Cindy Sproles
11/21/2015

Thankful Despite . . .
Cindy Sproles
11/20/2015

Stepping Up to Na-No-Wri-Mo
Cindy Sproles
11/16/2015

The Gift of No Gifts
Cindy Sproles
11/2/2015

Writers Be Encouraged
Cindy Sproles
10/15/2015

Keep ‘Em Reading – It’s the Writer’s Responsibility
Cindy Sproles
8/13/2015

Saying Goodbye
Cindy Sproles
7/17/2015

Overcoming the Fear of Writing Failure
Cindy Sproles
7/8/2015

Making the Move – Home to Assisted Living
Cindy Sproles
6/17/2015

I Kid You Not
Cindy Sproles
6/6/2015

Hearing the Call to Foster – Renee McCausey
Cindy Sproles
1/13/2015

Throw Out the Crutches
Cindy Sproles
1/10/2015

So You Were Asked to Be A Beta Reader?
Cindy Sproles
1/10/2015

REJECTIONS – Aaughhh!
Cindy Sproles
1/5/2015

The Bachelor – Stephanie Reed
Cindy Sproles
12/14/2014

The Making of a Servant
Cindy Sproles
11/30/2014

Miracle in a Dry Season Review – Yvonne Lehman
Cindy Sproles
8/27/2014

Write Anyway
Cindy Sproles
8/26/2014

World Blog Tour – Catching Up with Cindy Sproles
Cindy Sproles
7/22/2014

The Progression of Life
Cindy Sproles
7/17/2014

Instrumental Writing Helps – Aaron Gansky
Cindy Sproles
7/4/2014

The Question Saga
Cindy Sproles
6/29/2014

Defy the Night – REVIEW
Cindy Sproles
4/28/2014

When the Work is Hard to Do
Cindy Sproles
4/1/2014

My Heart Belongs to Him
Cindy Sproles
2/14/2014

Review of The Vicar’s Wife
Cindy Sproles
2/2/2014

The In on Self Publishing – Part 2
Cindy Sproles
12/29/2013

The In on Self Publishing – Part 1
Cindy Sproles
12/26/2013

In a Pickle
Cindy Sproles
10/1/2013

Bigger and Better
Cindy Sproles
9/27/2013

Putting SOCIAL back in Media
Cindy Sproles
8/10/2013

After the Conference Ends…
Cindy Sproles
8/8/2013

Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak, Tweak
Cindy Sproles
8/2/2013

Can You Hear Me Now?
Cindy Sproles
7/23/2013

Golden Years, Cherished Moments
Cindy Sproles
3/20/2013

Broken Heart Syndrome
Cindy Sproles
9/26/2012

What About Our Elders
Cindy Sproles
8/24/2012

A Minute – A Lifetime
Cindy Sproles
8/10/2012

Water, Water – Who’s Got the Water
Cindy Sproles
7/31/2012