A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but is spelt differently and means something different, such as their, there and they're. Homophones only cause difficulty in writing, because the pronunciation is identical.

How do I remember the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Expand the apostrophe form. If 'it is' or 'it has' fits the sentence, write "it's". If it does not, write 'its'. Unlike other possessives, 'its' never takes an apostrophe.

What is the difference between 'your' and 'you're'?

'Your' shows that something belongs to you, as in 'your book'. "You're" is the short form of 'you are', as in "you're early". Say the full form 'you are' in your head to check which one you need.

Why does English have so many homophones?

English spelling was largely fixed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, while pronunciation carried on changing. Words that once sounded different came to sound the same, but kept their older spellings.

Will a spellchecker catch homophone mistakes?

Often not. Both spellings are real words, so the checker sees nothing wrong. This is why homophone errors survive in otherwise careful writing, and why it is worth learning a quick test for each pair.

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English homophones

Homophones are words that sound identical but are spelt differently and mean different things: their and there, its and it's, to and too. Because they sound the same, your ears cannot help you — only a rule can. Here is one simple test for each of the pairs that cause the most trouble.

Level: A2 to C17 minute readFree to use

What a homophone is

A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another but has a different spelling and meaning. English has a great many, because its spelling was fixed centuries ago while its pronunciation kept changing.

They only cause problems in writing. When you speak, nobody can hear the difference — which is exactly why spellcheckers miss these mistakes: both spellings are real words.

Your and you're

'Your' shows possession: something belongs to you. "You're" is a short form of 'you are'.

The test: say the full form 'you are' in your head. If the sentence still makes sense, write "you're". If it does not, write 'your'.

Is this your bag?

The bag belongs to you. 'Is this you are bag?' makes no sense.

You're late again.

'You are late again' works, so the apostrophe form is correct.

You're going to love your new class.

Both in one sentence.

Their, there and they're

Three spellings, one sound, and the most common written error in English — native speakers included.

'Their' is possession, belonging to them. 'There' is a place, or the empty subject in 'there is' and 'there are'. "They're" means 'they are'.

Their = belonging to them. It always has a noun after it: their house, their teacher.
There = place. It contains the word 'here', which is also a place. Use that to remember it.
They're = they are. Expand it to check.

Their flight lands at six.

The flight belongs to them.

Put the books over there.

A place.

They're studying in Brighton this year.

'They are studying' works.

Its and it's

This pair breaks the usual rule, which is why it confuses everyone. Normally an apostrophe shows possession — Anna's book. With 'it', the possessive has no apostrophe at all.

'Its' means belonging to it. "It's" always means 'it is' or 'it has'. There is no third option.

The school has its own garden.

Possession, no apostrophe.

It's raining again.

'It is raining' — apostrophe.

It's been a long week.

'It has been' — apostrophe.

To, too and two

'To' is a direction or part of an infinitive verb. 'Too' means 'also' or 'more than you want'. 'Two' is the number 2.

The test for 'too': it has an extra letter, and it means something extra. Too much, too many, me too.

I'm going to the station.

Direction.

This coffee is too hot.

More than you want.

She speaks French too.

Also.

I have two sisters.

The number.

Other pairs worth knowing

These come up less often than the four above, but they appear regularly in written work and in exams.

Where / wear / we're

Place / to have clothes on / we are.

Weather / whether

Rain and sun / if, introducing a choice.

Hear / here

With your ears / in this place. 'Hear' contains 'ear'.

Buy / by / bye

Purchase / next to or done by / goodbye.

Know / no

To have knowledge / the opposite of yes.

Write / right

With a pen / correct, or the opposite of left.

Piece / peace

A part of something / the opposite of war.

Flour / flower

For baking / in a garden.

Near-homophones that are not quite the same

Some pairs sound similar without being identical, and these are worth separating in your mind because the spelling follows the sound.

'Affect' is usually a verb and 'effect' usually a noun: the weather affects my mood; it has an effect on my mood. 'Advice' is a noun with an /s/ sound, 'advise' a verb with a /z/ sound. 'Lose' has one o and means to not win; 'loose' has two and means not tight.

Practice

Try it yourself

Five quick questions. You get the answer straight away, with a short explanation.

Score: 0 / 5

1.___ going to love Brighton.
2.The school has ___ own library.
3.___ coming to the beach with ___ friends.
4.It was ___ cold to swim.
5.Good advice can ___ how you study.

Mistakes our teachers hear most often

Your welcome to join us.

You're welcome to join us.

'You are welcome' makes sense, so the contraction is needed.

The school opened it's doors in 1979.

The school opened its doors in 1979.

"It's" always means 'it is' or 'it has'. Possession takes no apostrophe here.

Their going to the beach.

They're going to the beach.

'They are going' is the meaning, so it needs the apostrophe form.

I have to much homework.

I have too much homework.

'Too' with two o's means an excessive amount.

I don't want to loose my place on the course.

I don't want to lose my place on the course.

'Lose' has one o. 'Loose' means not tight.

Can you give me some advise?

Can you give me some advice?

'Advice' is the noun; 'advise' is the verb. You give advice, and you advise someone.

Questions students ask

What is a homophone?: A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but is spelt differently and means something different, such as their, there and they're. Homophones only cause difficulty in writing, because the pronunciation is identical.
How do I remember the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?: Expand the apostrophe form. If 'it is' or 'it has' fits the sentence, write "it's". If it does not, write 'its'. Unlike other possessives, 'its' never takes an apostrophe.
What is the difference between 'your' and 'you're'?: 'Your' shows that something belongs to you, as in 'your book'. "You're" is the short form of 'you are', as in "you're early". Say the full form 'you are' in your head to check which one you need.
Why does English have so many homophones?: English spelling was largely fixed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, while pronunciation carried on changing. Words that once sounded different came to sound the same, but kept their older spellings.
Will a spellchecker catch homophone mistakes?: Often not. Both spellings are real words, so the checker sees nothing wrong. This is why homophone errors survive in otherwise careful writing, and why it is worth learning a quick test for each pair.

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