They Sound the Same. But they’re not.
English is full of words that sound similar or identical, but that mean different things. Only in English can you “stare at the stair,” “sail to the sale,” “break the brake,” or “brush the hare’s hair.” It can be hard to remember which spelling refers to which meaning. As a result, sound-alike words are often used incorrectly in writing. (In spoken English, of course, sound-alikes are not an issue. Spelling doesn’t matter when you talk!)
This chapter includes fourteen sound-alike word groups that tend to give writers fits. Read the definitions, do the exercises, and memorize the helpful hints. You’ll be on your way to better written grammar in no time at all!
