Language of the Day: Homophones part 2

English, like many other languages, is full of tricky homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same, but their spelling and meaning can be very different.

Today we’ll look at another five tricky homophones in English that you need to know!

6. compliment and complement

This pair trips up a lot of people. A compliment is an expression of admiration, like when you tell someone you like their outfit.

Compliment can be a noun or a verb: He complimented her insightful points during the meeting. She appreciate the compliment.

A complement is something that goes along with and enhances something else. It completes it (the first E in complement and complete are a handy way to remember).

For example: Their new carpet complemented the living room decor perfectly.

7. a lot and allot

A lot refers to a large amount of something or a large amount of time.

We ate a lot of pizza. (a large amount of pizza).
We eat pizza a lot. (very often)

A lot frequently gets mispelled as one word, *alot, or even confused for allot, “to distribute equally.” We allotted two slices of pizza per student.

8. capital and capitol

A capital is “the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state, etc.” Victoria is the capital of BC”, for instance.

A capitol is a specifically American word, referring to the building that holds legislative sessions. The Capitol, capitalized, refers to Washington, D.C.

9. their, there, and they’re

This might be the most mis-used homphone in English! Even among native speakers.

  • their, possessive pronoun for they (e.g. It’s their business, not yours)

  • there, an adverb for “in that place” (e.g., You’ll find the cereal over there)

  • they’re, a contraction for “they are” (e.g., They’re going to Hawaii)

10. to, too, and two

Another common mispelling for English speakers. Double check this one before you hit send.

  • to, a preposition or adverb indicating, among other things, direction towards (e.g., I’m going to the store)

  • too, an adverb meaning “also, excessively” (e.g., I, too, am going to the store)

  • two, what 1 plus 1 equals (e.g., Give me two more hours)

Zach J