If Americans write "meters" instead of "metres" (the street is 300 meters long), how do they write "meters" as in parking meters?
If they are both the same, how do they distinguish between the two?
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Strictsinger · 61-69, M
Your premise is inaccurate - they aren’t “the same thing.” They are the same WORD, but that’s not “the same thing.” (One is a device to collect coins as a fee to park your vehicle, the other is a form of measurement.)
As someone mentioned, they are homonyms - two words that sound the same, but which have different meanings. (Homonyms may be spelled differently: e.g., “Pair” and “Pear”)
In addition, they are homographs, meaning that they are spelled the same but have different meanings. (Homographs may be pronounced differently: e.g., “ADDress” meaning a location, and “adDRESS” meaning to speak to a person or topic)
Other examples of homographic homonyms include:
Air - oxygen / a lilting tune.
Arm - body part / division of a company.
Band - a musical group / a ring.
Bark - a tree's out layer / the sound a dog makes.
Bat - an implement used to hit a ball / a nocturnal flying mammal
Thanks for asking!
As someone mentioned, they are homonyms - two words that sound the same, but which have different meanings. (Homonyms may be spelled differently: e.g., “Pair” and “Pear”)
In addition, they are homographs, meaning that they are spelled the same but have different meanings. (Homographs may be pronounced differently: e.g., “ADDress” meaning a location, and “adDRESS” meaning to speak to a person or topic)
Other examples of homographic homonyms include:
Air - oxygen / a lilting tune.
Arm - body part / division of a company.
Band - a musical group / a ring.
Bark - a tree's out layer / the sound a dog makes.
Bat - an implement used to hit a ball / a nocturnal flying mammal
Thanks for asking!
HeadGirl · 46-50, F
@Strictsinger They shouldn't be spelled the same, because as you say they are not the same thing.
Strictsinger · 61-69, M
@HeadGirl
So there should be a different word for everything? That’s a lovely idea - totally impossible, given the limited number of sounds and the incredible number of nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc. in the language - but it’s a cute thought.
So far as I can find, there is no language which does NOT have homonyms.
So there should be a different word for everything? That’s a lovely idea - totally impossible, given the limited number of sounds and the incredible number of nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc. in the language - but it’s a cute thought.
So far as I can find, there is no language which does NOT have homonyms.
HeadGirl · 46-50, F
@Strictsinger Yes, but does that make it acceptable to mix them up? I don't think so.