Commonly confused words may sound alike (homophones), look-alike (homographs), or have related but distinct meanings. For example, "their," "there," and "they're" are often misused because they sound the same but have different meanings.

Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are all types of words that contribute to the complexity of the English language. Homonyms are words that sound alike and are spelled alike but have different meanings, such as "bat," which can mean a flying mammal or a piece of sporting equipment. Homophones are words that sound the same when pronounced but differ in meaning and spelling, like "night" and "knight." Homographs, on the other hand, are words that are spelled the same way but have different pronunciations and meanings, such as "lead" (to guide) and "lead" (a type of metal).

Unlike most spell-checkers, Grammarly uses AI to detect the context of your writing and pinpoint when you’re using a word incorrectly. It will instantly suggest the correct form and offer a brief explanation so you can easily correct mistakes and learn as you write.

Check out Grammarly’s guide to strengthening your writing skills for tips. Then make your writing more effective in real time by using Grammarly as your AI communication assistant everywhere you type. With Grammarly, you can go from idea to draft with generative AI, rewrite in a single click, and easily catch mistakes wherever you write.