English can be a difficult language to learn. Ask any distance learner and they will tell you their ordeal with the language. It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.

Several words in the English language are pronounced the same way, but have different meanings and spellings. Such words are called Hetrographs. They often leave writers confused and wondering what the correct spelling is, in their context.

Harry Potter is a book I have read, and I stop at a signal when it changes to red.

Well, this seems relatively simple. On that note, simplicity can be relative, but so is an uncle or a distant cousin.

Understanding Hetrographs

Linguistic experts have identified 355 Hetrographs in the English language. Till the 16th century, there really wasn’t a practice of following the right spelling for Hetrographs. Eventually, the randomization was taken out of the picture and a streamlined process was set into place.

You can purchase land and you’d own a site, however, a thorough inspection would require good sight.

Be a king, and you can ascend the throne, but a terrible king will get thrown out.

Watch what you eat, focus on your waist, just don’t let your food go waste.

Hunger pangs can really make you groan, but you know that they said you were grown.

If you are a man, they classify you as a male, and a surprise letter can arrive in your mail.

Colour your hair blond, you could use some dye, but if you are close to expiration, you will die.

One is a single, two is a pair, do try the delicious fruit they call a pear.

A slice of a cake, can be called a piece, a state of no war, is also known as peace.

All hail distance education, but try some physical education, they say it makes one hale and hearty.

Friends and peers who are grammar-conscious, cringe at the wrong usage of these words. However, you can comfort them with the proper use of:

“There, Their and They’re”

The terms used for these words can often get confusing as well. Let us break this down for you:

All about homonyms, homophones and homographs

HOMONYMS are words that sound alike, but have different meanings.

HOMOPHONES are a type of homonym that sound alike and have different meanings, but have different spellings.

HOMOGRAPHS include words that have the same spelling, but different meanings.

Heteronyms belong to the homograph family. They are spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different.

Now that you know, you’d probably find it a lot easier to differentiate them, but let us leave you with this:

English can leave you angry or in a lot of pain,

Don’t blow your top or break a window pane,

The language is quite pretty, like the morning dew,

But understanding them, it’s long due.

In the long run, it does have its pros,

We’re sorry if we bothered you with our little prose.