As an English tutor, terms from my past continue to pop in mind.  I haven’t been asked about this one in tutoring, but it’s of interest anyway….

Back in my August 21, 2013 post, I brought up the term homonym. As a kid I’d thought the term meant two words that sound the same, but are spelled differently (and have different meanings). Webster’s has two meanings for homonym: one includes mine, while the other says the words must spell as well as sound the same. The Oxford Canadian dictionary, in its single definition, prescribes that the words must spell or sound the same, but have different meanings.

The two dictionaries agree perhaps more closely on the related term homophone. Websters says homophones sound alike, but are different in spelling or meaning. Oxford (Canadian) says the definition I, as a kid, attributed to homonym.

Perhaps what I’ve known as homonyms might be more particularly called homophones. Believe it or not, there’s even more to say on this subject; I’ll reserve further commentary for another post;)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.