Words sound the same...

...but are spelled differently. The elusive homonym.

I work with some really intelligent writers, and like all humans, are susceptible to errors in spelling and grammar. When a person corrects such grammar, you’d think that the writer’s would take note and learn from the lesson! Some never learn and keep on making the same simple mistakes over and over.

Take fore example:

Advise - [ad-vahyz] - to give counsel to
Advice - [ad-vice] -  an opinion or recommendation offered

wander - [wahn-der] - to go aimlessly,
wonder -  [wuhn-der] - to think or speculate curiously:

than - (used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison): She's taller than I am.
then - at that time: Prices were lower then.

write - to express or communicate in writing; give a written account of.
right - in accordance with what is good, proper, or just: right conduct.
rite - a particular form or system of religious or other ceremonial practice: the Roman rite.

break - to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments:

brake - anything that has a slowing or stopping effect.

to - expressing destination
too - in addition; also; furthermore;
two - a cardinal number, 1 plus 1.

loose - free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.
lose -  to suffer the deprivation of: to lose one's job; to lose one's life.

This is just a simple list. You know there is someone who actually collects these words, for fun? http://www.crazysquirrel.com/stuff/same-sound.jspx

I’d say she is a crazy squirrel, but she beat me to it. :)

Wanna add more confusion?
Are they homonyms - a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning, as chase “to pursue” and chase “to ornament metal.”

or homophones? Phonetics -  a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air.

Some of these words are not even spelled the same and they confuse me. What I’m getting at is this; we as writer’s need to check our spelling and wording before you click post/submit and post it as a professional piece of work for your writing friends to see. Do your homework, don’t let everyone do it for you.