The English language is truly a melting pot, into which have been thrown
words from almost every language under the sun. This makes our spelling
very confusing many times. Because of this also, we have in our
language, words which have the same sound but different meaning, having
come into the language from different sources. These words are called
_homonyms_.
+Homonyms are words having the same sound but different meaning.+ For
example:
Plane, plain;
write, right.
Synonyms are words which have the same meaning. For example:
Allow, permit;
lazy, idle.
Our spelling lesson for this week contains a list of most of the
commonly used homonyms. Look up the meaning in the dictionary and use
them correctly in sentences. You will note that in some instances there
are three different words which have the same sound, but different
meanings.
Notice especially _principal_ and _principle_. Perhaps there are no two
words which we use frequently which are so confused in their spelling.
_Principle_ is a noun. _Principal_ is an adjective. You can remember the
correct spelling by remembering that _adjective_ begins with _a_.
_Principal_, the adjective, is spelled with an _a_, _pal_.
Notice also the distinction between _two_, _to_ and _too_. Look these up
carefully, for mistakes are very often made in the use of these three
words. Also notice the words _no_ and _know_ and _here_ and _hear_.
+Monday+
Buy--by
Fair--fare
Meat--meet
Our--hour
Pain--pane
+Tuesday+
Deer--dear
Hear--here
New--knew
No--know
Peace--piece
+Wednesday+
Two--to--too
Pair--pare--pear
Birth--berth
Ore--oar
Ought--aught
+Thursday+
Seen--scene
Miner--minor
Aloud--allowed
Stare--stair
Would--wood
+Friday+
Bear--bare
Ascent--assent
Sight--site--cite
Rain--reign--rein
Rote--wrote
+Saturday+
Great--grate
Foul--fowl
Least--leased
Principle--principal
Sale--sail