Words to Write By Part 13

The Words to Write By series is a quick reference to help explain the differences between commonly misused words. In this installment of Words to Write By, I’ll review there vs. their vs. they’re, intrical vs. integral, pray vs. prey, and cement vs. concrete.

There vs. their vs. they’re: These homophones frequently get confused. At times, the culprit may be hurried writing and an oversight by spellcheck or an editor. But a few may be a lack of understanding of the difference between the three. Let me create a quick reference for anyone who needs a little clarification.

There refers to a place. I’ll meet you there. Inside of the word “there” is another place, here. So if you see here in the form of t(here) you are using, you’ll know it is referring to a location.

Their establishes ownership. I found their cat in our backyard.

They’re is a contraction of they and are. They’re coming over for dinner.

And now all in one sentence. They’re going to drop off their cat and then they’ll meet us there.

Intrical vs. integral: While not homonyms, these two sound similar to each other, but only one of them is correct. Integral means that something serves as an important part. Tim is an integral part of our team. Intrical is not a word but likely comes from combining intricate and integral. Intricate refers to delicate and complex work.

Pray vs. prey: Pray is to make a request or give thanks in a humble manner, usually to a higher power. I’ll pray you have a safe trip. Prey refers to an animal that is hunted by another animal. Lions prey on the weak animals from a herd.

Cement vs. concrete: These are two words that frequently get misused. Cement is actually an ingredient in concrete. It’s added to water and then combined with other aggregates like sand and gravel to make concrete. So a sidewalk, for instance, is made of concrete.

Look for future installments of “Words to Write By.” You can find links to the rest of the series below.

Part 1: Peak vs. peek vs. pique, further vs. farther, blonde vs. blond, and gray vs. grey.

Part 2: Alleged, hung vs. hanged, a vs. the, and bring vs. take.

Part 3: Who’s vs. whose, whet vs. wet, compliment vs. complement, fazed vs. phased.

Part 4: Fiancé vs. fiancée, insure vs. ensure, alright vs. all right, and simultaneous vs. contemporaneous.

Part 5: Use vs. utilized, bear vs. bare, shuttered vs. shuddered, and breath vs. breathe.

Part 6: Maya vs. Mayan, hole vs. whole, libel vs. slander, patients vs. patience.

Part 7: A vs. an, cite vs. site vs. sight, i.e. vs. e.g., and that vs. who.

Part 8: Taking vs. taken, quiet vs. quite vs. quit, advise vs. advice, regardless vs. irregardless.

Part 9: Penultimate vs. ultimate, whether vs. weather, verses vs. versus, then vs. than.

Part 10: Emigrate vs. immigrate, lamb vs. lam, adverse vs. averse, and through vs. threw.

Part 11: Podium vs. lectern, lets vs. let’s, shined vs. shone, and through vs. thru.

Part 12: Intently vs. intensely, carmel vs. caramel, pore vs. pour, and cult vs. occult.