"Taylor" Your Writing: Time for Spring Cleaning--Use of Homophones
June 1, 2011: Time for a refresher on homophones? Think of it as spring cleaning for the mind.
Blame it on texting, but lately I've noticed the frequent substituting of one homophone for another. Homophones, as you know, are words that are pronounced alike but have different meanings and/or different spellings.
This calls to mind my college linguistics class, where hometown was ascertained by pronunciation of the words "merry," "marry," and "Mary." If you pronounced them all the same, thus rendering them homophones, you were likely from Syracuse. But I digress.
Let's begin with "your" and "you're." Simple enough: "your" is the pronoun meaning "belonging to you," while "you're" means "you are." If we simply recall that an apostrophe marks the omitted letter or letters in a contraction (when not denoting possession), and read what we have written, it is pretty obvious when we have incorrectly used a word's homophone. Similar are "its" (meaning "belonging to it") and "it's" (meaning "it is"), as discussed in last month's column about possessives.
Next, if you are going "there" to meet your friends, and "they're" there to meet you with "their" car parked nearby, life is pretty good and you've gotten your homophones right. Easy enough if one just takes the time to think before writing or driving.
And "who's" going to let us know "whose" rules we are using?
"To" figure this out, one merely needs to do "two" things: think first, then reread what you've written, "too."
These are the more commonly misused homophones, but there are hundreds of others. Some that often trick writers include: "principal" (a person in a leading position, such as the head of a school) and "principle" (a moral or value); "capital" (a city serving as the center of government (of a state, for example), or an uppercase letter) and "capitol" (the building in which a state government meets or (capitalized) the building in which the United States government meets in D.C.); "sight" (vision) and "site" (a location or place); and, a tricky one, "affect" (verb meaning "to have an influence on") versus "effect" (noun meaning "the result of such influence").
In days of "yore" they'd never mix up "your" and "you're." OMG. But if U txt me I'll *smile.*
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About the Bronxville Adult School & Contacts
The Bronxville Adult School is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1957 and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The School "offers all adults of Bronxville and surrounding communities the opportunity for personal growth through life enhancing skills and provides cultural, intellectual and recreational stimulation at a nominal cost."
The Bronxville Adult School
(914) 793-4435
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www.bronxvilleadultschool.org
Bronxville Public Library
The Bronxville Public Library traces its origins back to 1875, when it was a small lending library housed in a room attached to the “Bronxville Model School.” The Library was officially chartered in 1906 and moved into the Village Hall Building. The needs of the library grew with the town and, in 1942, a new standalone building was erected, which is where the Library is today. Over the years, the Library was renovated and expanded to meet the needs of the community.
The Library has wonderful resources for adults and children and offers a comfortable and relaxing environment. The Library also houses a fine art collection, consisting principally of Bronxville painters and sculptors.
The Library offers special events, art exhibitions, and programs for adults, young adults and children. All events are open to the public, unless otherwise indicated.
The Bronxville Public Library
914-337-7680
201 Pondfield Road (Midland Avenue & Pondfield Road)
http://bronxvillelibrary.org/
Iona University
At Iona, you’ll find bright, curious students eager to achieve for themselves, and for others. We foster both innovative, independent thinking and a deep commitment to community.
Iona’s unique locations offer the best of both worlds. Our New Rochelle and Bronxville campuses provide comfortable, intimate learning environments. At Iona, everyone knows everyone and faculty members and students work closely together.
With New York City less than half an hour away, students have unlimited options for career development and internship opportunities. Not to mention, access to some of the best cultural attractions in the world!
No two Iona journeys are alike. But they all have a few things in common. High-quality academics, outside-the-box thinking and dedication to helping others underscore every Iona experience.
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence is a prestigious, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Founded in 1926 and consistently ranked among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country,
Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, rich history of impassioned intellectual and civic engagement, and vibrant, successful alumni. In close proximity to the unparalleled offerings of New York City, our historic campus is home to an inclusive, intellectually curious, and diverse community.
914-337-0700
1 Mead Way
Bronxville, New York 10708
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