33 homophones that ensnare writers and speakers
by Laura Hale Brockway
“Galaxy Quest,” in case you haven’t seen it, is a science fiction parody about a group of actors who get caught up in a very real intergalactic battle between forces of good and evil. The movie is filled with pithy one-liners, clever word play, and even a lesson on homophones.
A homophone (or homonym) is a word that is pronounced the same as another, but means something entirely different. Take, for instance, one scene from “Galaxy Quest” in which the crew visits a strange planet in search of a beryllium sphere they need to repair their ship. They encounter a band of tiny, childlike aliens who appear to be mining the planet’s beryllium.
The dialogue is as follows:
Alexander: “Could they be the miners?”
Fred: “Sure. They’re like three years old.” (Everyone looks at Fred.)
Alexander: “Miners, not minors.”
Fred: “You lost me.”
Here are some other homophones—some come in threes—that cause confusion in this and other galaxies. (Click on the words for the definitions.)
vail/vale/veil
Readers, any other homophones to share?
This article was first published in Ragan Communication’s PR Daily.
