| − | A '''homophone''' is a [[noun]] used to describe two or more words that are pronounced the same way, but differ in spelling, meaning, or both. <ref>http://www.synonym.com/definition/homophone/</ref> An example of a homophone would be the words "tide" and "tied". It is derived from the Greek, meaning "same sound". The word was first used in English in 1843. <ref>http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/homophone</ref> | + | A '''homophone''' is one of two or more words or [[phrases]] that are pronounced the same way, but differ in spelling, meaning, or both.<ref>http://www.synonym.com/definition/homophone/</ref> An example of homophones would be the words "tide" and "tied". The word is derived from the Greek, meaning "same sound". The word was first used in English in 1843.<ref>http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/homophone</ref> Homophones that are also spelled the same way are called [[homonyms]]. |
| − | Although it is fairly easy to distinguish between most homophones, if the correct spelling and context in which it is to be used is known, there are, however, many which do cause confusion, due to a combination of identical pronunciation and similar spelling, for example: "principle" and "principal"; "whether" and "weather"; "stationery" and "stationary"; "their", "there" and "they're"; "to", "too" and "two".
| + | It is fairly easy to distinguish between most homophones in context. There are, however, many which do cause confusion, due to a combination of identical pronunciation and similar spelling, for example: "principle" and "principal"; "whether" and "weather"; "stationery" and "stationary"; "their", "there" and "they're"; "to", "too" and "two". |