Grumpy Grammar Grinch Grouses...

[Eden]

I had a friend in college who was dyslexic - spell check was his savior, but indeed homophones were his worst enemy. They are also seriously challenging for the people I know who speak English as a second language.

Their, there, they're

They're having their party there...

[SadieKate]

I had a friend in college who was dyslexic - spell check was his savior, but indeed homophones were his worst enemy.

Oh, jeez. I read that as homophobes.

It makes complete sense as a standalone statement but in this thread I had a "where the heck did that come from" reaction.

[Trek420]

It makes complete sense as a standalone statement but in this thread I had a "where the heck did that come from" reaction.

Ok so now we do the "change one letter to change the entire sentence" game.

But it makes sense. With enemies like that who needs friends?

[tribogota]

and now because I live and work in Spanish, where you spell things exactly how they sound, I have transferred that ability to English, which drives my mother crazy in emails "were i right whatever letters/words first come to mind an then use the wrong their/there/they're all over the place".

[Crankin]

Homophones were the bane of my existence when I was teaching English. Some kids never learned the differences/usages no matter what hands-on activities I tried. And judging from communication with other adults, a lot of people don't know correct usage for things like there/their/they're.

[Duck on Wheels]

There there, dear. I'm sure they're all doing their best for you over there.

[nc tam]

How about discreet/discrete?