Writing: Common Spelling Mistakes
B1 Lesson 6: Mastering Homophones
What are Homophones?
Homophones are words that sound the same when you speak, but have different spellings and different meanings. They are one of the most common sources of mistakes in English writing. Mastering them will make your writing much more professional.
Group 1: their / there / they're
| Word | Meaning / Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| their | Possessive - shows something belongs to them. | The tourists have their tickets. |
| there | A place, or used with 'is'/'are'. | The temple is over there. |
| they're | Contraction of "they are". | They're going to see the sunrise. |
Group 2: to / too / two
| Word | Meaning / Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | Shows direction or is part of an infinitive verb. | We are going to the market. |
| too | Means "also" or "excessively". | This soup is too hot! |
| two | The number 2. | I bought two beautiful scarves. |
Key Tip: Memory Tricks to Help You Remember
- their: It has the word "heir" inside. An heir inherits things (shows possession).
- there: It has the word "here" inside. "Here" and "there" are both about places.
- they're: Look for the apostrophe (')! It's a signal that two words have been combined: "they are".
- too: It has an "extra o". This can help you remember it means "also" or an "extra" amount of something (too hot, too cold).
Practice Your Spelling 🎯
Exercise: Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word from the options to complete the sentences.
- The students are doing (their / there / they're) homework.
→ their - Look! (Their / There / They're) going to visit the temple over (their / there / they're).
→ They're, there - I want (to / too / two) buy (to / too / two) tickets, please.
→ to, two - This coffee is (to / too / two) sweet for me, (to / too / two).
→ too, too
Your Writing Mission ⭐
Write Your Own Sentences
Show that you have mastered the difference! Write one correct sentence for each of the six problem words from this lesson.
Key Vocabulary
- Homophone A word that is pronounced the same as another word but has a different meaning or spelling.