Homonyms

[madmaggot]

are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things. Some common ones are: there and their, bough and bow, cheque and check, etc.

It doesn't matter when you're speaking if you don't know there is a difference but when putting your thoughts into print please be aware that you are not saying what you intend to say if you get them wrong. IMO this is how a lot of on-line arguments get started.

Please, if you are going to write something, do it correctly.

[Mick-Talbot]

hear hear

[venator]

In fact, apostrophe abuse is probably worth a separate post ...

[jno]

actually... this is nonsense. Those are homophones - words with the same pronunciations, different spelling.

Homonyms are words with the same spelling but different meanings - eg bank (of a river/of money).

Please, if you are going to write something, do it correctly.