The words aisle and isle are pronounced exactly the same and have nearly the same spelling. However, they have completely different meanings. In this article, we will break down the different meanings of aisle and isle and give a helpful tip to easily remember the difference between the two words. Is it aisle or isle? The noun aisle is typically used to refer to a …
The words course and coarse are homophones. They’re pronounced exactly the same, but their meanings and usage are very different. In this article, we will define course and coarse, explain how they are typically used, and give examples that show how they are used in sentences. The word course is used as a noun and a verb with many different meanings. Some common meanings as …
The words threw and through are homophones—they have the exact same pronunciation. But they’re used very differently. In this article, we’ll explain the differences between threw and through, cover how and when both are used, and provide some examples that show how they’re typically used in sentences. Threw is the past tense of the irregular “verb” throw, which has multiple meanings. For example: He threw …
Peal and peel are pronounced exactly the same and look very similar, but their meanings are quite different. In this article, join us as we peel back the layers of difference between peal and peel, show how to use the forms pealing and peeling, and provide examples of how these words are used in sentences. Peal and peel are homophones: they sound the same but …
The words to, too, and two sound exactly alike but are used in completely different ways. They are classic examples of what we call homophones—words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings and spellings. Because they’re so similar, they often get mixed up in written language. In this article, we’ll give you everything you need to make sure you choose the right to, …
Are those reins on a horse or reigns? Is it rein in or reign in? Free rein or free reign? Confusion is understandable: reign and rein are pronounced exactly the same and are almost spelled the same—except for the silent G in reign (which is a big clue, actually). And both involve control. We’ll make it easy to tell apart rein and reign and remember …
We use a lot … a lot. But ask someone to define a lot and they’ll probably start by saying “A lot means … a lot!” That’s because it’s so commonly used that it can be hard to think of how to explain it. A lot can seem like it should be a single word—and maybe one day the spelling alot will appear in this …
English is full of homophones, or words that have the same pronunciation but vastly different meanings, origins, and spelling. Some of the most confused homophones include their/they’re/there; affect and effect; and complement and compliment. Let’s add another pair to the list: breach and breech. Are you a whale watcher? A lawyer? A gun owner? You might know the definition of these words. But do you know how …
March 14 marks one of the geekiest days on the calendar. But, some people might confuse it for one of the tastiest. It’s Pi Day. Not pie, but pi (II, π), the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. In mathematics, the character is used to represent a constant—the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter—which is approximately 3.14159+. While the infinitely long …