Don’t ‘bee’ stung by tricky language

Writing can be intimidating because there are so many elements of the English language that don’t seem logical. Homophones, for instance, pose a challenge to many people. Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Here are a few commonly used homophones that can cause the average businessperson embarrassment if misused.

Pour vs. pore

If you’re “pouring” over a report, you better get a towel and clean up the mess. That’s because the word you’re really looking for is “pore.” “To pore” means to gaze intently at something, to read or study something attentively, or to reflect or meditate steadily on something. “To pour” means to cause to flow in a stream, to dispense from a container, or to produce freely or copiously. So you would “pore” over a report to glean important information, but you’d “pour” yourself a drink or “pour” out your feelings.

Altar vs. alter

If you’re determined to “altar” your behavior, you might want to head to your local place of worship. That’s because the word you’re really looking for is “alter.” “Altar” is a noun and usually means a raised structure on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned during worship. “Alter” is a verb that means to make something different without changing it entirely into something else. So you’d “alter” your behavior or “alter” a recipe, but you’d sacrifice your personal life on the “altar” of career advancement or you’d burn incense on an “altar.”

Coarse vs. course

If you’re taking a “coarse” of action, get ready for a rough ride. That’s because “coarse” means rough or loose in texture, or an ordinary or inferior quality. “Course” means the act or action of moving in a path from point to point. So you’d take a “course” of action when necessary, but you’d use “coarse” sandpaper when undertaking a refinishing job.