I used to review/revise customer service correspondence (complaints) replies for a major bank. Please allow me to assist with some of the most common homonym errors. You hit some good ones, but also:
Accept and except - accept is to receive or make peace with; so you either accept the award or you accept that Biden cheated his way into office. Except is the root word of exception, as in not including - I brought everything except the kitchen sink.
To/Two/Too - To is describing the direction of something. We're going to the movies. Two is literally the number 2 written out. I'll have two slices of pizza. Too describes an overabundance of something - it's too cold to go outside, or there are too many kids in this kitchen.
Do/Due/doo doo - Do is the present tense of did - I do the dishes every day. Due is either being owed (he was due $7.00) or when something is expected (homework is due tomorrow). Doo doo is another way to say poop. :) Had to have a little fun with this.
Right/Write/Rite - Right is the opposite of left. It is also synonymous with correct. Being on the right is the right place to be. Write is when you put pen to paper and physically write something (also used with CDs/DVDs, as in write access). Rite a social custom or practice, or a religious act. Like being read your last rites, or a rite of passage.
Week and weak - week is the 7 day period from Sunday to Saturday. Weak is not having enough strength.
Its and It's - when conveying inanimate ownership, lose the apostrophe: his bicycle has cards in its spokes. The car needs its tires inflated. Use the apostrophe for the contraction It Is - It's raining outside, or it's about time.
And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE while we're on the topic of it's - NOT a replacement for There! THERE is a package on the front step - not IT'S a package on the front step. I hear that all the time and it is so incorrect.
I hope this helps someone :) also if you are in doubt, just look up "homonyms" and you're very likely to find the right spelling to use.
I used to review/revise customer service correspondence (complaints) replies for a major bank. Please allow me to assist with some of the most common homonym errors. You hit some good ones, but also:
Accept and except - accept is to receive or make peace with; so you either accept the award or you accept that Biden cheated his way into office. Except is the root word of exception, as in not including - I brought everything except the kitchen sink.
To/Two/Too - To is describing the direction of something. We're going to the movies. Two is literally the number 2 written out. I'll have two slices of pizza. Too describes an overabundance of something - it's too cold to go outside, or there are too many kids in this kitchen.
Do/Due/doo doo - Do is the present tense of did - I do the dishes every day. Due is either being owed (he was due $7.00) or when something is expected (homework is due tomorrow). Doo doo is another way to say poop. :) Had to have a little fun with this.
Right/Write/Rite - Right is the opposite of left. It is also synonymous with correct. Being on the right is the right place to be. Write is when you put pen to paper and physically write something (also used with CDs/DVDs, as in write access). Rite a social custom or practice, or a religious act. Like being read your last rites, or a rite of passage.
Week and weak - week is the 7 day period from Sunday to Saturday. Weak is not having enough strength.
Its and It's - when conveying inanimate ownership, lose the apostrophe: his bicycle has cards in its spokes. The car needs its tires inflated. Use the apostrophe for the contraction It Is - It's raining outside, or it's about time.
And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE while we're on the topic of it's - NOT a replacement for There! THERE is a package on the front step - not IT'S a package on the front step. I hear that all the time and it is so incorrect.
I hope this helps someone :) also if you are in doubt, just look up "homonyms" and you're very likely to find the right spelling to use.
Thank you!
My pleasure! I'm a big old nerd; this stuff is oddly fun for me.