GLOSSARY OF HOMONYMS AND FREQUENTLY ABUSED WORDS
FFML FAQ Supplement
Last revised 04/01/2000
Original writer:
Warr <warr@pobox.alaska.net>
Current Maintainers:
Vincent Seifert <seifertv@csus.edu>
Shunsuke <shunsuke@direct.ca>
Switch <niftol@i-manila.com.ph>
Maintainers Emeritus:
Gary Kleppe <kleppe@mediaone.net>
Warr <warr@pobox.alaska.net>
Author's Notes. Unlike Gary and Vince's English Corrolary, this is meant to
be somewhat serious. There are also way too many of these freaking things
for me to catch them all. Especially when there are fine people out there
who have done this work before.
I refer you to: http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html
I think this guy has more homonyms in his 'A' category than my entire list
here. I just touched on a the more common mistakes and whatever ever
other words came to me as I wrote. He does not, however, offer examples
of their use. And without further adieu, may I present- The List:
p.s. If I had to make a list of the most common mistakes made by writers
new and old alike. *cough* I'd pay special attention to "its and it's," "lose
and loose," "they're, their and there," "your and you're" and just ftfoi
"strait and straight."
We now return you to your regulary scheduled program.
Where was I? Oh, yeah- The List:
Homonym: One of two or more words that have the same sound and often
the same spelling but differ in meaning.
Brake: A device used to slow momentum. "Isamu Dyson did not panic as
Guld fired multiple rounds at him but instead hit the
Veritech's brake and dropped below the attack."
Break: To damage something. "Nanami used to practice the Art but then
she had to go and break her arm. It was money and sarcasm from
that point on."
Council: A group or panel of people called for discussion; administrative
body. "Hear! Hear! The Student Council is now called to
order. The first order of business: Electing Makoto Student
President!"
Councel: Advice; guidence. "You don't know what it's like having Jinnai
as a sibling. A team of psychiatrists had to councel me
for a
month just so I could watch Naga from Slayers and not shudder
in pain."
For: Indicates object or aim of activity; direction. "What is she
dressed like that for?" "She's the new weatherlady.
Apparently, sex sells on this weather channel."
Four: Three + one. "How many fingers am I holding up?" "Eight. I
mean four. I'm seeing double here, Gohan."
Foul: Offensive. "What is that foul odor?" "It's Mousse. He
had to go dumpster diving after he accidentally threw
away the
reversal jewel."
Fowl: A bird (order: Galliform). "What are you going to have for
dinner, Noa?" "The fowl or the surf n' terf."
Gene: Functional hereditary unit found in the chromosomes. "I wonder
what sort of genes our kids will inherit." "Probably
baldness,
going by his father."
Jean: Strong, heavy cotton. "Where'd you get that jean jacket, Mousse?"
"I either found it while dumpster diving yesterday or it
was in my
robe."
Grate: To fragment or pulverize by friction; raspy noise; framework of
bars. "Can you come and grate this cheese for me, Setsuna?"
"Wai! I get to help you cook!" "Well, it's the one
thing I'm pretty
sure you can't screw up."
"Stop talking. Your voice is beginning to grate on my mind."
"That's what you get for binge drinking, Misato."
"How did you escape the prison, Metal Gear?" "The iron grate
covering the ventilation shaft was rusty."
Great: Big; superior. "I once visited the Great Lakes." "What? When?"
"That is a secret."
"Tita is a great captain!" "You're just young and horny."
Hear: Perceive with your ear. "Do you hear the panties sing?
Singing a tale of pretty girls?"** "Put a sock in it,
Happosai!"
Here: In or at this place. "Where on earth am I now?" "Right here.
Havn't you heard, Ryoga? 'Wherever you go, there you are.'"
Heard: Past tense of hear. "Hey, Tenchi, I heard a noise coming from
outside the bathroom last night." "That was probably my dad
trying out his new camera."
Herd: A large number of animals or humans. Also, to move or direct.
"Look at that large herd of cabbits. Have you ever seen
them in such numbers?"
"Have you noticed a pattern to Iria's attack?" "Yes, it seems
she is trying to herd the Zeiram into the transport."
Hoarse: Harsh, grating sound. "Why does Jinnai sound so hoarse?" "He
attempted to filibuster the Student Councily. He lasted
three
days."
Horse: Large, four-hoofed mammal with long mane and tail. "That Wild
Horse is gorgeous! Look at those flowing fetlocks!" "The
horse he's riding isn't too bad, either."
Its: A term used to show possession. "The runaway vehicle had no
brakes and nothing was going to stop its momentum but the fast-
approaching brick wall."
It's: Stands for "It is." "It's a beautiful day in the
neighborhood.
Don't you think, Ryoko?" "Shut up, Mihoshi."
Knead: To work or press into form. "Nabiki began to knead Ranma's
muscles with a relaxing massage. 'This is going to cost you,
Saotome.' 'I know, but I need this.' Ranma looked up at
Nabiki's grunt to see his plethora of fiancee's standing in the
doorway. 'Why couldn't you have one of us give you a
massage?!'"
Need: To require or desire urgently. "Cutey Honey? This city needs
your help."
Knew: Past tense of know. "I just knew when I woke up today, that I
should have stayed in bed."
New: Not old. "You are in for a treat. Sharon Apple is performing
her new song at tonight's concert!"
Know: Believe to be true; recognize. "Does anyone know who has the
bounciest fiancee?" "It's Terry Bogard! Mai, she's
voluptuous!"
"Hey, I know you! You're that guy who kicked Sagat's ass last
night."
No: Not so. "Do you know the six-fingered man?" "No, can't say
that I do."
Knows: Used in the same manner as know. "How is it that she knows so
many ways to prepare rice?" "Well, her family isn't very rich
and rice is cheap."
Nose: The olfactory device planted in the middle of your face. "What
_IS_ that smell? It's making my nose itch!"
Lose: To misplace an item or control. Also, fail to win. "Now, Akane,
I want you to promise me that you won't lose your temper
today."
Ayeka spluttered, "Ryoko! How dare you lose your chaste
status to someone before marriage to Lord Tenchi? I mean...
See, Lord Tenchi, the mongrel isn't the one for you."
"Prepare to die, Saotome!" "No way, I don't lose!"
Loose: Not tight fitting; slack. "Hey, Akane, this shirt is a
little loose on me. Are you sure you're not gaining weight?"
Massage: A body rub to increase circulation or relax muscles. "Oh, Reeve,
that feels so good!" "Cid bursts in and screams, "How dare
you and my daughter. . . massage each other?"***
Message: Communication. "What do you want, Kuno?" "I wish for you to
give the pig-tailed girl a message and this cute, little
dolly."
Peace: Absense of hostility. "To bring peace to the families, we
have decided that Ataru will marry the one girl who actually
seems to like him: Shinobu."
Piece: A part or unit of something bigger; an example. "Poor Hanza,
may he rest in pieces." "You're a bastard, Jubei! He was my
friend."
"Who is this?" "It's a musical piece by Bolero,
brother-dear."
Strait: A narrow passage connecting two water bodies. "Here you go,
Akane, I brought you this gift I picked up during my
travels.
"The Bass Strait? What were you doing in Australia, Ryoga?"
Straight: Not bent; correct. "The shortest distance between two points is a
straight line, Ranma." "Tell that to Ryoga, Nabiki."
"They tell me you're the best, Shayla-Shayla." "Damn
straight!"
Than: Used to indicate the second element or clause after a comparative
adjective or adverb. "She is more powerful than anyone I
know."
"What about Naga?"
Then: After that; next. "I say we escape the Vogans, then we can worry
about saving Trillian and the others."
Their: Posessive form of they. "Don't go into that pool center,
Kintaro Oe." "Why not, it's the only way I can learn
their famous
diving techniques."
There: In or at that place. "Don't go over there!" "Why not?"
"Because it's a trap."
They're: Stands for "They are." "You've been transferred to Tomobiki? I
hear they're all crazy over there!"
Threw: Past tense of throw. "What did you do with that gadget, Nanami?"
"I threw it away because it was ugly, Makoto."
Through: Completely; in one way and out the other. "Come back here. I'm
not through with you, Goko."
"To become a true warrior, you must first pass through the
door. Beyond that door lies the Mirror of Reflected Souls."
To: In the direction of. "Where do you think you're going to,
Shinji?"
"I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of NERV."
Too: As well, also. "Let's go kick that monster's butt!" "You can't
leave me behind! I'm a martial artist, too!" "Okay, we
needed someone to carry the supplies."
Two: One + one; second in a series. "'I don't think I could take
it if there were two of Alleile,' Afura stated before sighing
loudly."
Wait: To remain inactive before an anticipated moment. "I'm surprised
the planet is still in one piece." "Just wait, Freeza is
due to show
up in a day or two."
Weight: Heaviness or mass of an object. "Man, that sure is a weight off
my mind!" "How could you say that, Ranma? I thought Ukyou
was your friend?" "She was, but now there's one less fiancee
to worry about."
Who's: Who is; who has. "Who's got the remote? I wanna know who's in
control of the TV?" "Washu cackled as she stated, 'I
control the horizontal, I control the vertical.'"
Whose: That which belongs to whom. "Just whose fault is this anyway?
And don't blame me, I was out navigating the ship."
"Everyone pointed at Ellcia who just glared back."
Your: Of or relating to you. "Who made this mess? Kasumi isn't going
to be happy." "It was your fiancee, Ranma, you clean it up.
You're: You are. "You're not just a bad guy after all. Thank's,
Kuno, for blocking Happosai's firecracker for me." "Kuno
merely
fell over and mumbled 'No problem.' as the pain from the
third-degree burns and unconsciousness kicked in.
**Stolen without permission from FCasper's FILK: Do You Hear the Panties Sing.
*** Paraphrased from Sailor Solathei's Children of Jenova.