Common Grammar Mistakes Part Six: Homophones

The English language is a complicated one. One aspect of this language that challenges a lot of people is homophones: words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Here are some common homophones that plague writers.

Affect vs. effect

Two of the most common homophones people use incorrectly are affect and effect. Even experienced writers have to stop and think about these two! However, once you understand the difference between the two words, you'll know how to use them correctly every time.

Affect is a verb. It basically means to produce a change in something, producing an effect:

-Jill's broken finger affected her ability to write. (The effect is that Jill's ability to write was compromised.)

Affect can also mean to move emotionally:

-The speaker's passion affected the audience deeply.

Affect can mean to pretend:

-The man affected an air of confidence, even though it was his first day on the job.

One way to remember how to use affect is to remember that it is a verb, which is often an action. Action and affect both start with an A-I know, it's weak, but it works for me!

Effect is generally a noun, and usually the product of an action:

-The flood was an effect of the storm.

Effect can also mean to become operative:

-The plan was in effect.

Effect can be a verb in one sense, meaning to bring about or accomplish:

-The CEO's new policies effected change in the organization.

Note in this example that the word effect is not producing an effect (like affect would)-it's causing something to happen. If we were to use affect in this sentence, it would be:

-The CEO's new policies affected the organization.

There vs. their vs. they're

Another commonly misused homophone is there/their/they're. Again, if you become familiar with the definitions of these words, you'll have an easier time remembering which one to use.

There is basically a directive; it indicates "in that place."

-I want to go there.
-There is my cat.

Their is the possessive form of the pronoun they:

-The family was happy to move into their new home.
-The children played with their ball.

They're is a contraction for they are:

-They're not coming home until later. (They are not coming home until later.)
-They're playing ball. (They are playing ball.)

Your vs. You're

Your and you're are words that confuse a lot of people

Your is the possessive form of you:

-Your door is open.
-I think this sweater is yours.

You're is a contraction for you are:

-You're not going to believe this!

If you can't break the you're into you are, use your. Use this test on the examples above:

-Your door is open. (You are door is open would not work.)
-I think this sweater is yours. (I think the sweater is you ares? Wrong!)
-You're not going to believe this! (You are not going to believe this! Perfect!)

Its vs. it's

Its is possibly one of the most commonly misused homophones.

Its is the possessive of it. The inclination is to use an apostrophe here, but that would not be correct:

-The horse shook its head.

It's is a contraction for it is:

-It's hot outside.

If you can't break the it's into it is, use its. Use this test on the examples above:

-The horse shook its head. (The horse shook it is head wouldn't make sense.)
-It's hot outside. (It is hot outside. Perfect!)

Sight vs. site vs. cite

While sight, site, and cite are not as commonly used as the examples above, they are often misused.

Sight refers to vision or seeing:

-The man's injury to his eye affected his sight.
-It was love at first sight.

Site, when used as a noun, refers to a specific spot or place:

-This is a good site to build our house.
-She pulled up a website on the internet.

Site can be used as a verb, meaning to aim:

-The sniper sited his rifle.

Site is less commonly used as a verb meaning to place or situate something on a site:

The army sited the cannon on top of the hill. (Meaning they placed it there, not that they saw it. If they saw the cannon, the sentence would be: The army sighted the cannon on top of the hill.)

Cite is a verb, often meaning to quote, such as a book or author:

-The preacher cited a passage from the bible.

Cite can also mean to commend (give a citation):

-The soldier was cited for bravery.

If you regularly have a hard time remembering which of two or more similar words to use, take some time to memorize the meanings. Once you understand why a word is the right choice, it'll become easier for you to remember.