Gr
eetings, writers!
We writers have both the fortune and misfortune of having a broad vocabulary to choose words from. It is amazing how high these ordered symbols on the page can elevate our writing. We think of a word, pluck it from our cranial soup, and spill it onto the page. Sometimes, though, these words aren’t quite what we’re looking for. When that happens, we have to be our own investigators in order to use the correct words and avoid being misunderstood. Here are some commonly confused homophones (not to be mixed up with homonyms) you may encounter in your writing. Below, example sentences show each word grouping in a general context.
1. Peaked, peeked, & piqued.
– Her performance peaked at the end of the soccer game.
– He peeked at the test results.
– The magazine article piqued my interest.
2. Lightning & lightening.
– The lightning struck the skyscraper.
– The white paint is lightening the dark blue paint.
3. Lead & led.
– The plumber removed the lead pipe.
– The professor led the group discussion this morning.
4. Weather & whether.
– Today, the weather will be warmer.
– Whether or not you like Italian food, we’re going to Olive Garden.
5. Soar & sore.
– The birds soar high in the sky.
– He had a sore throat for two days.
If you’d like to take a look at more homophones, check out the following page:
13th Floor Magazine 