Homophones: The Sequel - The Grammar-Us Blog - Grammar-Us

In a recent blog post, I barely scratched the surface of those pesky homophones – words that sound alike but are spelled differently and mean different things.  Here are a few more that seem to cause confusion.

Faze: To affect or bother. (Example: The fact that his fly was unzipped didn’t seem to faze him; perhaps he is an exhibitionist.)

Phase:  A distinct period of time in the process of change. (Example: Mary is thirteen years old and going through that phase where she thinks she knows more than her parents.)

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Feet: That part of your anatomy on which you walk; also, a unit of measurement. (Example: I knew if I wore those three-inch heels, my feet would hurt, and I was right!)

Feat: An achievement that requires great skill, courage or strength. (Example: The circus performer’s feats on the high wire were awe-inspiring.)

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Aid: To help/assist. (Example:  The nurse aided the patient in getting out of bed.)

Aide: The person who does the helping/assisting. (Example: Patricia is a nurses’ aide at Mercy Hospital.)

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Piece: A portion or segment of a larger object. (Example: May I please have a piece of pie?)

Peace: The absence of war; calm; tranquility: (Example: I go to the lake when I want peace and quiet.)

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Peek: A quick, furtive look; to look quickly or furtively. (Example: Here’s a sneak peek at the new season’s fashions.)

Peak: The pinnacle; the top. (Example:  The car’s engine was running at the peak of its efficiency.)

Pique: A feeling of irritation or resentment. (Example:  Sarah got her feelings hurt and left in a fit of pique.)

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Hole: An excavation; a void. (Example: My dog likes to dig holes in the back yard.)

Whole: Entire (Example: I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!)

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Waste: To squander; to expend extravagantly or to no purpose. (Example: The movie was boring; it was a waste of time.)

Waist: The part of the human body below the ribs and above the hips. (Scarlett O’Hara had a tiny, 18-inch waist.)

BONUS TIP:

Your: Belonging to you (Example: Don’t forget to take your wallet with you to the grocery store.)

You’re: You are (Example: You’re my best friend.)

Yore: Days gone by; the distant past. (Example: In days of yore, the Roman Empire ruled most of Europe.)