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.
