The English language is truly a melting pot, into which have been thrown words from almost every language under the sun. This makes our spelling very confusing many times. Because of this also, we have in our language, words which have the same sound but different meaning, having come into the language from different sources. These words are called homonyms.

Homonyms are words having the same sound but different meaning. For example:

• Plane, plain;
• write, right.

Synonyms are words which have the same meaning. For example:

• Allow, permit;
• lazy, idle.

Our spelling lesson for this week contains a list of most of the commonly used homonyms. Look up the meaning in the dictionary and use them correctly in sentences. You will note that in some instances there are three different words which have the same sound, but different meanings.

Notice especially principal and principle. Perhaps there are no two words which we use frequently which are so confused in their spelling. Principle is a noun. Principal is an adjective. You can remember the correct spelling by remembering that adjective begins with a. Principal, the adjective, is spelled with an a, pal.

Notice also the distinction between two, to and too. Look these up carefully, for mistakes are very often made in the use of these three words. Also notice the words no and know and here and hear.

Monday

• Buy—by
• Fair—fare
• Meat—meet
• Our—hour
• Pain—pane

Tuesday

• Deer—dear
• Hear—here
• New—knew
• No—know
• Peace—piece

Wednesday

• Two—to—too
• Pair—pare—pear
• Birth—berth
• Ore—oar
• Ought—aught

Thursday

• Seen—scene
• Miner—minor
• Aloud—allowed
• Stare—stair
• Would—wood

Friday

• Bear—bare
• Ascent—assent
• Sight—site—cite
• Rain—reign—rein
• Rote—wrote

Saturday

• Great—grate
• Foul—fowl
• Least—leased
• Principle—principal
• Sale—sail