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1/31/2013

A Comprehensive List of Homophones

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Homophones (words with the same sound but a different spelling and meaning) can be the proofreader's worst enemy. Here's a comprehensive list of homophones. I can't claim the credit for compiling the list, by the way, as it's pretty much all over the internet. To the person who put all the work in, I offer my gratitude.

Here's the list (print it out and keep it close at hand):

1. accessary, accessory
2. ad, add
3. ail, ale
4. air, heir
5. aisle, I'll, isle
6. all, awl
7. allowed, aloud
8. alms, arms
9.  altar, alter
10. arc, ark
11. aren't, aunt
12. ate, eight
13. auger, augur
14. auk, orc
15. aural, oral
16. away, aweigh
17. awe, oar, or, ore
18. axel, axle
19. aye, eye, I
20. bail, bale
21. bait, bate
22. baize, bays
23. bald, bawled
24. ball, bawl
25. band, banned
26. bard, barred
27. bare, bear
28. bark, barque
29. baron, barren
30. base, bass
31. bay, bey
32. bazaar, bizarre
33. be, bee
34. beach, beech
35. bean, been
36. beat, beet
37. beau, bow
38. beer, bier
39. bel, bell, belle
40. berry, bury
41. berth, birth
42. bight, bite, byte
43. billed, build
44. bitten, bittern
45. blew, blue
46. bloc, block
47. boar, bore
48. board, bored
49. boarder, border
50. bold, bowled
51. boos, booze
52. born, borne
53. bough, bow
54. boy, buoy
55. brae, bray
56. braid, brayed
57. braise, brays, braze
58. brake, break
59. bread, bred
60. brews, bruise
61. bridal, bridle
62. broach, brooch
63. bur, burr
64. but, butt
65. buy, by, bye
66. buyer, byre
67. calendar, calender
68. call, caul
69. canvas, canvass
70. cast, caste
71. caster, castor
72. caught, court
73. caw, core, corps
74. cede, seed
75. ceiling, sealing
76. cell, sell
77. censer, censor, sensor
78. cent, scent, sent
79. cereal, serial
80. cheap, cheep
81. check, cheque
82. choir, quire
83. chord, cord
84. cite, sight, site
85. clack, claque
86. clew, clue
87. climb, clime
88. close, cloze
89. coal, kohl
90. coarse, course
91. coign, coin
92. colonel, kernel
93. complacent, complaisant
94. complement, compliment
95. coo, coup
96. cops, copse
97. council, counsel
98. cousin, cozen
99. creak, creek
100. crews, cruise
101. cue, kyu, queue
102. curb, kerb
103. currant, current
104. cymbol, symbol
105. dam, damn
106. days, daze
107. dear, deer
108. descent, dissent
109. desert, dessert
110. deviser, divisor
111. dew, due
112. die, dye
113. discreet, discrete
114. doe, doh, dough
115. done, dun
116. douse, dowse
117. draft, draught
118. dual, duel
119. earn, urn
120. eery, eyrie
121. ewe, yew, you
122. faint, feint
123. fah, far
124. fair, fare
125. farther, father
126. fate, fête
127. faun, fawn
128. fay, fey
129. faze, phase
130. feat, feet
131. ferrule, ferule
132. few, phew
133. fie, phi
134. file, phial
135. find, fined
136. fir, fur
137. fizz, phiz
138. flair, flare
139. flaw, floor
140. flea, flee
141. flex, flecks
142. flew, flu, flue
143. floe, flow
144. flour, flower
145. foaled, fold
146. for, fore, four
147. foreword, forward
148. fort, fought
149. forth, fourth
150. foul, fowl
151. franc, frank
152. freeze, frieze
153. friar, fryer
154. furs, furze
155. gait, gate
156. galipot, gallipot
157. gallop, galop
158. gamble, gambol
159. gays, gaze
160. genes, jeans
161. gild, guild
162. gilt, guilt
163. giro, gyro
164. gnaw, nor
165. gneiss, nice
166. gorilla, guerilla
167. grate, great
168. greave, grieve
169. greys, graze
170. grisly, grizzly
171. groan, grown
172. guessed, guest
173. hail, hale
174. hair, hare
175. hall, haul
176. hangar, hanger
177. hart, heart
178. haw, hoar, whore
179. hay, hey
180. heal, heel, he'll
181. hear, here
182. heard, herd
183. he'd, heed
184. heroin, heroine
185. hew, hue
186. hi, high
187. higher, hire
188. him, hymn
189. ho, hoe
190. hoard, horde
191. hoarse, horse
192. holey, holy, wholly
193. hour, our
194. idle, idol
195. in, inn
196. indict, indite
197. it's, its
198. jewel, joule
199. key, quay
200. knave, nave
201. knead, need
202. knew, new
203. knight, night
204. knit, nit
205. knob, nob
206. knock, nock
207. knot, not
208. know, no
209. knows, nose
210. laager, lager
211. lac, lack
212. lade, laid
213. lain, lane
214. lam, lamb
215. laps, lapse
216. larva, lava
217. lase, laze
218. law, lore
219. lay, ley
220. lea, lee
221. leach, leech
222. lead, led
223. leak, leek
224. lean, lien
225. lessen, lesson
226. levee, levy
227. liar, lyre
228. licence, license
229. licker, liquor
230. lie, lye
231. lieu, loo
232. links, lynx
233. lo, low
234. load, lode
235. loan, lone
236. locks, lox
237. loop, loupe
238. loot, lute
239. made, maid
240. mail, male
241. main, mane
242. maize, maze
243. mall, maul
244. manna, manner
245. mantel, mantle
246. mare, mayor
247. mark, marque
248. marshal, martial
249. marten, martin
250. mask, masque
251. maw, more
252. me, mi
253. mean, mien
254. meat, meet, mete
255. medal, meddle
256. metal, mettle
257. meter, metre
258. might, mite
259. miner, minor, mynah
260. mind, mined
261. missed, mist
262. moat, mote
263. mode, mowed
264. moor, more
265. moose, mousse
266. morning, mourning
267. muscle, mussel
268. naval, navel
269. nay, neigh
270. nigh, nye
271. none, nun
272. od, odd
273. ode, owed
274. oh, owe
275. one, won
276. packed, pact
277. packs, pax
278. pail, pale
279. pain, pane
280. pair, pare, pear
281. palate, palette, pallet
282. pascal, paschal
283. paten, patten, pattern
284. pause, paws, pores, pours
285. pawn, porn
286. pea, pee
287. peace, piece
288. peak, peek, peke, pique
289. peal, peel
290. pearl, purl
291. pedal, peddle
292. peer, pier
293. pi, pie
294. pica, pika
295. place, plaice
296. plain, plane
297. pleas, please
298. plum, plumb
299. pole, poll
300. poof, pouffe
301. practice, practise
302. praise, prays, preys
303. principal, principle
304. profit, prophet
305. quarts, quartz
306. quean, queen
307. rain, reign, rein
308. raise, rays, raze
309. rap, wrap
310. raw, roar
311. read, reed
312. read, red
313. real, reel
314. reek, wreak
315. rest, wrest
316. retch, wretch
317. review, revue
318. rheum, room
319. right, rite, wright, write
320. ring, wring
321. road, rode
322. roe, row
323. role, roll
324. roo, roux, rue
325. rood, rude
326. root, route
327. rose, rows
328. rota, rotor
329. rote, wrote
330. rough, ruff
331. rouse, rows
332. rung, wrung
333. rye, wry
334. saver, savour
335. spade, spayed
336.  sale, sail
337. sane, seine
338. satire, satyr
339. sauce, source
340. saw, soar, sore
341. scene, seen
342. scull, skull
343. sea, see
344. seam, seem
345. sear, seer, sere
346. seas, sees, seize
347. sew, so, sow
348. shake, sheikh
349. shear, sheer
350.  shoe, shoo
351. sic, sick
352. side, sighed
353. sign, sine
354. sink, synch
355. slay, sleigh
356. sloe, slow
357. sole, soul
358. some, sum
359. son, sun
360. sort, sought
361. spa, spar
362. staid, stayed
363. stair, stare
364. stake, steak
365. stalk, stork
366. stationary, stationery
367. steal, steel
368. stile, style
369. storey, story
370. straight, strait
371. sweet, suite
372. swat, swot
373. tacks, tax
374. tale, tail
375. talk, torque
376. tare, tear
377. taught, taut, tort
378. te, tea, tee
379. team, teem
380. tear, tier
381. teas, tease
382. terce, terse
383. tern, turn
384. there, their, they're
385. threw, through
386. throes, throws
387. throne, thrown
388. thyme, time
389. tic, tick
390. tide, tied
391. tire, tyre
392. to, too, two
393. toad, toed, towed
394. told, tolled
395. tole, toll
396. ton, tun
397. tor, tore
398. tough, tuff
399. troop, troupe
400. tuba, tuber
401. vain, vane, vein
402. vale, veil
403. vial, vile
404. wail, wale, whale
405. wain, wane
406. waist, waste
407. wait, weight
408. waive, wave
409. wall, waul
410. war, wore
411. ware, wear, where
412. warn, worn
413. wart, wort
414. watt, what
415. wax, whacks
416. way, weigh, whey
417. we, wee, whee
418. weak, week
419. we'd, weed
420. weal, we'll, wheel
421. wean, ween
422. weather, whether
423. weaver, weever
424. weir, we're
425. were, whirr
426. wet, whet
427. wheald, wheeled
428. which, witch
429. whig, wig
430. while, wile
431. whine, wine
432. whirl, whorl
433. whirled, world
434. whit, wit
435. white, wight
436. who's, whose
437. woe, whoa
438. wood, would
439. yaw, yore, your, you're
440. yoke, yolk
441. you'll, yule

Thanks, again, to the original creator.

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8/29/2012

An English Proofreading Course. But Not Very English.

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I’ve just been looking at my Google Analytics and it has revealed some interesting data about the international nature of The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course.

For those of you unfamiliar with Google Analytics, this is a very important tool if you’re looking to secure work via a website. It tells you how many visits you’ve had, how they arrived at your site (which phrases they keyed into Google, for example) and how long those visitors stayed on any given page. From all this information (and much more), you can fine tune your website to improve the visitor experience, create a more compelling offer for your freelance proofreading services and, ultimately, secure more proofreading assignments. I use it all the time for The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course website and it has become invaluable. Anyway, back to that ‘interesting data’. My intention with The No-Nonsense
Proofreading Course was always to value-engineer it so that there was no unnecessary expense. For that reason, I did away with all the grammar instruction you tend to find bundled in with other proofreading courses. Page for page, this grammar instruction is ridiculously expensive when compared to the price of Fowler’s Modern English or the American Heritage Book of English Usage, particularly if you pick up a copy at a second hand bookshop or on eBay. This has proved to be a very popular move if sales are anything to go by.

It has also produced a commercially advantageous side-effect. Because The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course isn’t anchored to any particular variant of English grammar, the eBook sells internationally. When I look at my Google Analytics for ‘Country/Territory’ over the last 12 months, I can see that people have bought the eBook in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Portugal, Fiji, Hungary, Qatar, Sweden, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, Germany, France, Spain and Singapore.
 
Obviously, it would be silly to say that The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course was an ‘International Proofreading Course’, but I don’t think it would be too unreasonable to describe it as a proofreading course that caters to the English-speaking world, irrespective of accent or dialect. The robust  proofreading methodology at the heart of my eBook isn’t tied to any particular brand of English.

Okay, when I said ‘interesting data’, I should probably have said, ‘very slightly interesting data’.

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2/15/2011

So, you want to be a proofreader but your grammar’s a little rusty. Is it all over?

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You have a good eye for detail. You’re thorough. You’re patient. You have what it takes to be a proofreader.

Except... your grammar is a little bit ropey.

Don’t worry. Those other traits – the eye for detail, the thoroughness, the patience – are innate. Those things are incredibly difficult to learn. Grammar? That’s something that can be learned.

Now, depending on whereabouts you are on the ropey-o-meter will decide what kind of assistance you’re going to need. If you just need to tighten up your understanding of dangling modifiers, split infinitives and the like, then you probably just need to study a copy of Fowlers Modern English Usage. If, however, you’re in need of a bit more of an overhaul, you’re probably going to need something a little more intensive.

English Grammar Revolution offers a pretty good place to start.

The course uses videos rather than books to explain the eight parts of speech and to teach you basic sentence diagramming. And then there are downloadable PDF worksheets for practicing and fine-tuning your understanding.

If you’ve got the eye, patience and determination to become a proofreader but you’re worried that your understanding of grammar might let you down,
English Grammar Revolution is well worth a look, particularly as it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. Click on the link below for more information. What have you got to lose?

Click here to find out more about English Grammar Revolution

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6/16/2010

Grammar and English Usage Training. Completely Free!

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On the sales page of this website and in the introduction to The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course itself, I advise my readers to be wary of any proofreading course which includes modules or chapters on the subject of grammar and proper English usage. The reason I counsel caution with regard to this is simple: why pay for something which is available elsewhere relatively cheaply (Fowler’s Modern English Usage) or completely free (The Plain English Campaign website)? It’s what the kids call a ‘no-brainer’. Apparently.

Well, I’ve just stumbled upon another fantastic free resource, offering comprehensive instruction on the subject of grammar and English usage. It’s an online training course provider called Alison and you’ll find it here.

There are a whole host of individual free courses available, from IT and mathematics to chemistry and economics. The course you’re likely to be interested in is called ‘English Grammar Rules’ and it is described thus:

“This free online course offers a comprehensive revision of English grammar. It is designed for those already fluent in English, but who want to improve their writing. It covers punctuation and grammar, from commas and colons to adverbs and prepositions. By completing this course, you will see a marked improvement in your written English. Each section breaks down the rules into easily assimilated explanations. There is a section on spelling. This course is ideal for anyone looking to improve their written and indeed spoken English.”

All you need to do is sign up (which is free) and go here. Then, one push of a button and you’re off.

I really can’t recommend this highly enough for those of you who feel their grammar skills may need a little bit of an overhaul before they attempt to embark on a proofreading career.

Best of luck.

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5/25/2010

Hyphenation Rules, a Proof Reader’s Guide

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Proofreading Course: Hyphenation Rules
In my experience, proof readers tend to be rather calm individuals, going about their work in an unruffled, dignified manner. Proof readers are rarely confrontational in temperament, because proofreading by its very nature requires a serene and reflective approach. So, it was rare for me, as an Operations Manager supervising, amongst other people, proof readers, to have to intervene in any kind of serious dispute.

Except when it came to hyphens.

To a proof reader, hyphens are like a red rag to a bull. There appear to be two distinct camps. On the one hand you’ve got your proof readers who can’t get enough of hyphens, proof readers who would happily mark-up an otherwise clean proof with an overabundance of little red dashes. And, on the other hand, you’ve got your anti-hyphen proof readers (or should that be ‘antihyphen’ or ‘anti hyphen’?). These guys would gladly see the hyphen put it into storage, to be taken out and dusted off on those rare occasions where context alone is insufficient to infer meaning.

My personal leanings are toward the second camp. There was nothing more infuriating than seeing a proof limp toward the finish line simply because of a few hyphens (particularly when it’s holding up an entire forme and the head of the print department is having a monumental hissy fit).

Given my personal feelings on this matter, it’s probably best if I hand over to an independent authority: the Plain English Campaign.

The following is from their excellent website:

The main use of a hyphen is to join two or more words together.

Sometimes a word needs a hyphen for it to be spelt correctly. For example:

• one-off
• part-time
• face-to-face

In some situations there are no hard and fast rules and the use of hyphens is a matter of personal preference. However, there are some guidelines on when you should use them.

In compound adjectives (single adjectives formed from two or more words) that appear before a noun

For example:

• An up-to-date guide is a guide that is up to date.
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance is a benefit that is based on your income.
• An energy-efficient fridge is one that is energy efficient.

These hyphens are often necessary to avoid confusion. For example:

• A blue-collared shirt is a shirt with a blue collar, while a blue collared shirt could be a blue shirt that has a collar.
• A French-dictionary salesman is a man who sells French dictionaries, while a French dictionary salesman could be a Frenchman who sells dictionaries.
• A red-wine bottle is a bottle for red wine, while a red wine bottle could be a wine bottle that is red.

To distinguish one word from a similar one

For example:

• re-sort, not resort
• co-op, not coop
• re-form, not reform

With prefixes

Some words formed with a prefix are always hyphenated.

For example:

• self-employed
• pro-family
• anti-aircraft

With some prefixes, a hyphen is not necessary but is preferable to help with pronunciation, avoid a double vowel, or stop a word looking odd.

For example:

• co-ordinate
• re-enter
• de-ice

When numbers between 21 and 99 are written out in full

For example:

• twenty-one
• ninety-nine
• one hundred and thirty-four (Note that only ‘thirty-four’ is hyphenated.)


Remember, us proof readers are a relatively small group. We need to stick together. So, let’s not fight.

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