The last blog post certainly took liberties with the definition of a homophone, but these pairings really and truly can not be classified as such, even in New Zealand. Whether it’s due to similar spelling or a confusion over different forms of the same verb or noun, the following words are often used in place of each other, especially when written.
Lose and loose
These two words have very different meanings, but similar spellings - so it’s easy to see why they are often mixed up. “Lose” is a verb which means to misplace something, or to be defeated in a competition. “Loose” is an adjective used in both a concrete and abstract way to describe something that is free, unrestrained, unattached, relaxed and not tight. It can also occasionally be used as a verb, but with a different meaning: to set something free on purpose - i.e, “he loosed the boat from its moorings”.
A good way to remember the difference between these is that if you mean “lose,” you should “lose” the extra “o.”
Moral and morale
These words have different (although not entirely unrelated) meanings, with just one measly letter to set them apart. They are quite distinct in pronunciation, so the confusion comes with spelling. “Moral” is a noun either referring to the main principle or practical lesson expressed in a story, or to a person’s own ethical principles, and also an adjective describing something which is concerned with the distinction between right and wrong - “she had a strong moral stance on that issue”. “Morale” is an abstract noun and refers to an emotional condition, in regards to the level of cheerfulness or zeal being experienced - “morale was low amongst the troops”.
The moral of that paragraph was that “morale” is something a person might feel or experience, while a “moral” is something that they might have or stick to. If you are referring to a story and its main lesson, “moral” is the one you need.
Lie and lay
In the context of the mixups to which I am referring in this blog post, these words are two very similar verbs, both involving setting something down or reclining it on a surface.
“Lie” is something that you do yourself, to yourself. A person will lie down, lie on the bed or lie on the floor. They might even lie on a bed of nails, but it will be of their own volition. In this instance, “lie” is used without a direct object, meaning a noun upon which the verb is acted out. You don’t lie something down, you lie down. “Lay”, however, is something that a person will do to something or someone else, and therefore it takes a direct object. A person might lay a carpet, lay someone down on a bed, lay the truth on someone. A chicken might lay an egg. You don’t lay down (although this usage is very common, and therein lies the mixup), you lay something or someone down.
To put it as simply as possible, “lie” is what you do yourself, not something you do to anyone or anything, and “lay” is what you do to something or someone. I lie down; I lay something down.
This does become more complicated when you consider the past tense , as “lay” is the past tense of “lie”. Only if you are talking about the past would you say “I lay down”. The past tense of “lay” is “laid” - “the chicken laid an egg”.
A branch lies on the beach, after someone laid it there.
Woman and women
There’s not too much to say on this topic. “Woman” is one single lady, “women” are a whole group of single ladies dancing around and waving their ring fingers in the air like Beyonce. If in doubt, ask yourself whether you would be using “man” or “men” were the genders reversed.
Mute and moot
The primary instance in which these two words are confused is when they come before or near the word “point”. A “moot point” is a point of discussion or argument for which the answer or conclusion is irrelevant and of no practical value. As an example, you might say that whether or not you would have been accepted into a particular programme is a moot point, because the date for applications has passed. “Mute” is a verb or adjective related to the absence of sound or talking. A “mute point” is not a commonly used phrase at all, and while there may be a situation or two in which it makes sense (I can’t think of any, can you?), “moot point” or “the point is moot” are the words you are very likely looking for.
Then and than
The meanings of these two words are a little more complicated than a simple noun or verb, so rather than muddy the waters with definitions I will focus on how to determine which one you should use, as they are very commonly mixed up. If you are referring to the order of events, you should use “then” - “He went to the beach, then he had a shower.” If you are comparing two things, you should use “than” - “The baby shower was a lot more low-key than the 21st birthday party.” The only handy trick I can suggest is to ask yourself if you are comparing, or ordering. The word “comparing” has an “a” but no “e”, just like “than”. The word “ordering” has an “e” but no “a”, just like “then”.
Saying the words out loud can also help if spelling is the issue, as they have distinct pronunciations in which the different vowels become obvious.
As I have said before, in the vast majority of cases, people will know exactly what you mean if you use the incorrect word from these pairings, so there’s no need to stress over grammar in your casual facebook posts or emails to friends. That may be because they aren’t entirely sure of the distinction themselves, or because we humans can quite easily figure out meaning based on context. Really, it’s a moot point as you will get your message across either way. However, if you find yourself in a situation where correct grammar is more valuable than casual language, then don’t lose hope or morale - just keep these explanations in mind! Alas, I’m left with lie/lay and woman/woman, and I can’t think of anything clever and appropriate.