Homographs, Homonyms, and Homophones One of the weaknesses of electronic spellcheckers, such as is found in word processing programs, is that if you misspell a word and the result is legitimate another word, the spellchecker will not identify it as a misspelled word. In English, there are many ambiguous words are quite confusing because of their similarity. Webster’s describes three types of words that are often Universal Spelling, Grammar and Usage confused because of their similarity. A is a that is spelled the same as another word but has a homograph “word different meaning and gives several examples, such as pronunciation” (313). Webster’s which if pronounced to rhyme with is a noun meaning a looped knot such as in bow, low, a ribbon—or, if pronounced to rhyme with is a verb meaning bend the head or how, “to body as a sign of respect or in (313). Another similar homograph is when sow; greeting” pronounced to rhyme with it is a verb meaning scatter seeds in the but low, “to earth,” when pronounced to rhyme with it is (313). A homograph that I have how, “a female pig” encountered, not listed in is when pronounced to rhyme with it is a bass; case, Webster’s, musical instrument or human voice that plays or sings the low notes; when pronounced to rhyme with it is a fish. mass, A is word that has the same spelling and the same pronunciation as homonym “a another word but has a different 313). A good example of a meaning” (Webster’s homonym is which has several meanings: in or free from fair, “light color,” “equitable or or market held regularly in the same prejudice,” “average moderate,” “a place.” Another example is which could be a verb meaning propel the boat by means of row, “to
Homographs, Homonyms, and Homophones One of the weaknesses of electronic spellcheckers, such as is found in word processing programs, is that if you misspell a word and the result is another legitimate word, the spellchecker will not identify it as a misspelled word. In English, there are many ambiguous words are quite confusing because of their similarity. Webster’s Universal Spelling, Grammar and Usage describes three types of words that are often confused because of their similarity. A homograph is a “word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning and pronunciation” (313). Webster’s gives several examples, such as bow, which if pronounced to rhyme with low, is a noun meaning a looped knot such as in a ribbon—or, if pronounced to rhyme with how, is a verb meaning “to bend the head or body as a sign of respect or in greeting” (313). Another similar homograph is sow; when pronounced to rhyme with low, it is a verb meaning “to scatter seeds in the earth,” but when pronounced to rhyme with how, it is “a female pig” (313). A homograph that I have encountered, not listed in Webster’s, is bass; when pronounced to rhyme with case, it is a musical instrument or human voice that plays or sings the low notes; when pronounced to rhyme with mass, it is a fish. A homonym is “a word that has the same spelling and the same pronunciation as another word but has a different meaning” (Webster’s 313). A good example of a homonym is fair, which has several meanings: “light in color,” “equitable or free from prejudice,” “average or moderate,” or “a market held regularly in the same place.” Another example is row, which could be a verb meaning “to propel the boat by means of