Lesson 16 Spelling
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