From Edie: Confused by homonyms, homophones, and homographs? Lori Hatcher shares the differences, why they matter for writers, and how to use these commonly misunderstood words correctly in your writing.
Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs: How Writers Can Tell the Difference
by Lori Hatcher
I learned about homonyms in sixth grade. According to my English teacher, homonyms are words that are spelled or sound the same, but have different meanings. One of my favorite writerly T-shirts displays three homonyms in large letters on the front: THEIR, THERE, and THEY’RE.
Easy peasy, right?
Except, in the decades since my middle school education, homonyms have apparently become more sophisticated. Now linguists identify several types of homonyms. Today I’d like to talk about homophones and homographs.
Homophones (which, in Latin, means “same sound”) are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently. Consider dew and do. Or by, buy, and bye.
Homographs (which, in Latin, means “same writing”) are words that sound the same and are spelled the same. Consider bank (a financial institution) and bank (the side of a river); or match (a contest, like a soccer match) and match (a stick used to light a fire).
Are you struggling to keep the two straight?
Hang in there. I can help.
A homophone has the word phone in it, and we listen to a phone. This can help us remember that when we listen, homophones sound the same.
A homograph has the word graph in it, and we write on a graph (or, for the more visual, we write with a graphite pencil). Homographs are words that are written (spelled) the same.
To tell whether two words are homophones or homographs, ask yourself if the words sound the same or are spelled the same.
Do they sound the same but have different meanings? They’re homophones. Like see and sea.
Are they spelled the same but have different meanings? They’re homographs. Like ball (the toy) and bawl (an ugly cry).
And if you still can’t remember?
Default to your sixth-grade education and simply call it a homonym. You won’t be wrong.
If you’d like to take a deep dive into homonyms, homophones, and homographs (not to mention heteronyms, homophones, and polysemes, and capitonyms), I encourage you to check out the Homonym page in Wikipedia.
It makes for nerdy, writerly reading, especially the section on the word “bow.” This tiny but mighty word has at least seven separate meanings, all with the same spelling:
bow – a long stick with horse hair that is used to play certain string instruments such as the violin
bow – to bend forward at the waist in respect (e.g. "bow down")
bow – the front of the ship (e.g. "bow and stern")
bow – a kind of tied ribbon (e.g. bow on a present, a bowtie)
bow – to bend outward at the sides (e.g. a "bow-legged" cowboy)
Bow – a district in London
bow – a weapon to shoot projectiles with (e.g. a bow and arrow)[1]
Is “bow” a homonym, a homophone, or a homograph? Use the hints I share above to decide, then post your guess in the comments.
If you’re still confused, don’t despair. For many writers, there will always be homonyms in their writing, and they’re going to continue to use them.
But take heart. You don’t have to know what to call these pesky parts of speech. Just make sure you know how to use them.
So there.
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