read, reed, read and red

read: (v) to examine and grasp, interpret and discern,  to utter or render aloud, to predict, to study, to learn, to indicate, to show 

reed: (n) a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family; a thing or person resembling the plant

read: (adj) informed, learning, having knowledge, to take something for granted (v) past tense of read

red: (adj) of a color at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet; (n) color or pigment, a red thing or person

Once I read about a red reed and I'd like to read about it again.

aloud and allowed

aloud: (adv) audibly, not silent; loudly
allowed: (v) admit, give necessary time or opportunity for

You are allowed to speak aloud.

sore, soar

sore: (adj) painful, aching; (n) a painful place; (adv) extremely or severely 

soar: (v) to rise or fly; (n) the act of soaring

I am sore from the soar.

here, hear, hair and hare

here (adverb) in, at, or this place or position; used when introducing someone or something; used to attract attention; indicating one's presence in role call

hear (v) to perceive with the ear the sound made by someone or something

hair (n) any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans, mammals, and some other animals

hare (n) a fast-running, long-eared mammal that resembles a large rabbit, having long hind legs and occurring typically in grassland or open woodland.

Hear me and look over here at this hare with red hair!

a lot

a lot: two words, not one!

(pronoun) a large number or amount

(adv) a great deal

(n) a particular group, collection, set

A lot of people think "a lot" is one word. It is not.

compliment and complement

compliment: (n) a polite expression of praise or admiration; (v) to congratulate or praise

complement: (n) a thing that completes or brings to perfection; something required to make a group complete; (v) to add in a way that enhances or improves; make perfect

Your compliments about my dress complement my feelings about our date.

neither and either

either: used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made.

neither: not either; not the one nor the other 

He said I could have either one, but I wanted neither.

accept and except

accept: (v) consent to receive; come to recognize or believe something as valid or correct

except: (preposition) not including; other than — (conjunction) used as a statement that forms an exception to one just made — (v) specify as not included; exclude

I accept you are exceptional, except when you are not.

bread and bred

bread: (n) food made of water, flour and yeast; money

bred: (adjective) a person or animal reared in a specified environment or way


The city-bred man didn't have a lot of bread.

bored and board

Just saw this one and thought to myself, "What is so exciting about a board?"

bored: feeling unoccupied or lacking interest in activity

board: (n) a long, flat piece of wood; (v) to get on or into

I am bored of this board. Let's board the ship.

clothes and close

This one makes me laugh every time I see it!

clothes: items worn to cover the body

close: (v) move or cause to move; (adj) a short distance away; (n) the end of an event

Close the box of clothes and place it close to the entrance so the postman will know to pick it up even after we close the shop.

regardless and irregardless

regardless: without paying attention to the present situation

irregardless: is not a word — don't use it

Regardless of the facts, people continue to believe that "irregardless" is an actual word.

whether and weather

It is flooding in Cedar City, Utah which is the town I claim as my home (although I was born in Montana).

whether: a conjunction expressing an inquiry or investigation, a doubt, or choice

weather: (n) the state of the atmosphere; (v) wear or change in the appearance or texture

I don't know whether the weather will weather my swede jacket, but I'll take my chances anyway because I enjoy the rain.

access, excess, and assess

access: (n) a way or means to approach; the the state of being approachable
(v) to make contact with; to locate

excess: (n) going beyond what is considered customary or proper; to the extreme; immoderate indulgence; a surplus
(adj) more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified; extra

(v) to dismiss, demote, transfer

assess: to determine, estimate or judge the value or character; evaluate

Fortunately, I have access to the internet and other informational tools that allow me to assess the excess use of incorrect verbiage.

dialogue and dialog

dialogue: an exchange of ideas or opinions between two or more persons, parties or groups in different contextes including that of literary works, politics, religion; overall conversations

dialog: accepted misspelling of dialogue 

Just sayin'..

affect and effect

affect: to act upon or influence; alter

effect: a result

My accent was not, in effect, affected by the southerners around me. 

since, sense, scents, cents, cense and sence

since: ago, before now; from a past time to the present

sense: a feeling or perception; a faculty or function of the mind

scents: odors or smells

cents: monetary units 

cense: to perfume with incense

and just for good measure..
sence: slang for marijuana

Since I used my last cents to purchase sence, I can't afford to cense the scents. I sense this may be a problem.

Know Yore Language: anon

1. in a short time
2. at another time
3. archaic: at once, immediately 

envision and invision

envision: to picture mentally

invision: the want of vision or of the power of seeing

I invision the power of envision. 

then and than

then: used as a time marker or with a sequence of events
(Put your socks on first, then your shoes.)

than: used in comparative statements
(But my socks are cuter than my shoes!)