Writing/Commonly confused homonyms

Homonyms are words that have the same pronunciation or sound alike but have different meanings and often different spellings. Here are some commonly confused homonyms in American English writing:

1. Accept / Except:
   • Accept: to receive or agree to something.
   • Except: excluding or with the exclusion of.
2. Affect / Effect:
   • Affect: to influence or produce a change.
   • Effect: a change that occurred as a result of a specific action.
3. Its / It's:
   • Its: possessive form of "it."
   • It's: contraction of "it is" or "it has."
4. Their / There / They're:
   • Their: possessive form of "they."
   • There: a location or place.
   • They're: contraction of "they are."
5. Your / You're:
   • Your: possessive form of "you."
   • You're: contraction of "you are."
6. To / Too / Two:
   • To: preposition indicating direction or action.
   • Too: meaning also or excessively.
   • Two: the number 2.
7. Whose / Who's:
   • Whose: possessive form of "who."
   • Who's: contraction of "who is" or "who has."
8. Then / Than:
   • Then: indicating time or sequence.
   • Than: used in comparisons.
9. Effect / Affect:
   • Effect: a change that occurred as a result of a specific action.
   • Affect: to influence or produce a change.
10. Principal / Principle:
    • Principal: a person who has controlling authority.
    • Principle: a fundamental truth, law, or rule.
11. Compliment / Complement:
    • Compliment: a nice remark or praise.
    • Complement: something that completes or goes well with something.
12. Stationary / Stationery:
    • Stationary: not moving.
    • Stationery: writing materials.
13. Passed / Past:
    • Passed: past tense of "pass."
    • Past: a time that has gone by.
14. Than / Then:
    • Than: used in comparisons.
    • Then: indicating time or sequence.
15. Capital / Capitol:
    • Capital: a city where a government's central offices are located.
    • Capitol: a building where legislative work is carried out.
16. Weather / Whether:
    • Weather: atmospheric conditions.
    • Whether: introducing a choice between alternatives.
17. Bear / Bare:
    • Bear: an animal; to endure.
    • Bare: uncovered or exposed.
18. Peace / Piece:
    • Peace: a state of tranquility or quiet.
    • Piece: a part or portion of something.
19. Lead / Led:
    • Lead: a heavy metal; to guide or direct.
    • Led: past tense of "lead" (pronounced "led").
20. Lose / Loose:
    • Lose: to suffer loss or defeat.
    • Loose: not firmly fixed in place; not tight.

Understanding the distinctions between these homonyms can help prevent common spelling and usage errors in writing.