Homophone is Greek for the same sound. A homophone can be defined as a word that, when pronounced, seems similar to another word but has a different spelling and meaning. The two words may be spelt the same, as in ‘rose’, the flower and ‘rose’, the past tense of rise, or differently, as in ‘rain’, ‘reign’, and ‘rein’. The term homophone may also apply to units longer or shorter than words, such as phrases, letters, or groups of letters pronounced the same as another phrase, letter, or group of letters. Any unit with this property is said to be homophonous. In literature, homophones are used extensively in poetry and prose to make rhythmic effects and to put emphasis on something. They are also used to create multiple meanings in a written piece.
The Important Effects of Homophones
There are three possible effects of homophones:
Error
This is the most common effect of homophones. They can lead you to make spelling and grammar mistakes, negatively affecting your writing quality.
Ambiguity
Sometimes, an author will make a homophone mistake that isn’t quite a spelling or grammar error but makes the sentence less readable. This is because homophones create ambiguity; in other words, they make the sentence’s meaning unclear.
Pun
You can use a homophone joke or pun if you’re going for laughs.
Common Homophone Pairs
break/brake
When teaching my daughter how to drive, I told her she would break the car’s side mirror if she didn’t hit the brake in time.
cell/sell
If you sell drugs, you will get arrested and end up in a prison cell.
cent/scent
I will spend one cent on a perfume bottle once I love the scent.
die/dye
If you accidentally drink a bottle of fabric dye, you might die.
flour/flower
To bake a flower-shaped cake, you’ll need some flour.
for/four
I purchased four new pairs of shoes for my upcoming vacation.
heal/heel
If the heel breaks on your shoe, you might fall. However, your injuries will heal over time.
hear/here
I wanted to sit here to hear the singer performing without any distractions.
hour/our
We have one hour before our appointment with the real estate agent.
idle/idol
Being idle makes me unhappy, but listening to my idol, Taylor Swift, makes me happy.
knight/night
The knight is on his way to the castle, but travelling at night is very dangerous.
knot/not
I do not know how she learned to tie the knot to make that necklace.
right/write
There is no right way to write a great novel.
sea/see
I love to wake up at my beach house and see the sea.
sole/soul
I need a new sole on my favourite pair of running shoes. Jogging is good for my soul.
son/sun
My son is 13 years old. He likes to spend time outside in the sun.
steal/steel
Someone who decides to steal a car has committed a crime, but auto parts are made of steel.
tail/tale
My cat wildly chased his tail while I read a fairy tale to my children.
weather/whether
I am trying to decide whether to bring a jacket or not. The weather looks unpredictable today.
Examples of Homophones
Their trying to get home on time to see they’re favourite show.
The author needs clarification about homophones in this example and made a mistake. This confusion is a widespread source of spelling and grammar errors, so you must know your homophones well as a writer!
I’ll wait for you by the bank.
This isn’t a grammar error but a confusing sentence – does the author mean “riverbank” or “savings & loan bank”? This is called ambiguity.
Examples of Homophones in Literature
“How is bread made?’‘I know that!’ Alice cried eagerly. ‘You take some flour─’‘Where do you pick the flower?’ the White Queen asked. ‘in the garden or in the hedges?’‘Well, it isn’t picked at all’ Alice explained; it’s ground─’‘How many acres of ground?’ said the White Queen.”(Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland)
This passage has two homophones: flour/flower and ground/ground (also homonyms). The ambiguity is humorous, resulting in a couple of puns. It also contributes to a general sense of confusion and weirdness, which is central to the tone of Lewis Carroll’s book.
“I’m a lawyer,” said the corkscrew, proudly. “I am accustomed to appear at the bar.
(L. Frank Baum, The Emerald City of Oz)
There’s a homonym here with the word “bar” – in one meaning, it’s a place where people go to drink (so a corkscrew belongs). In another, it means a court of law (where a lawyer might appear).