Tuesday Tricksters, June 28

This is the latest in a continuing weekly series of tricky words in American English known as homophones (words that sound alike but mean something different and are spelled differently). I have been posting them in alphabetical order, just so I can remember which ones to write about each week.

Homophones are a writer's worst nightmare because we so often depend on spellcheck to help us write well. But if we spell a word correctly but use it incorrectly, spellcheck will still accept it. And we'll look foolish.

So, here are a few for you to consider, and you can find all the other ones I've posted on my website under "blog."

I (pron.): the singular personal pronoun
Aye (n.): an affirmative vote 
Eye (n.): the organ of sight; (v.): to look at

I’d (contr.): short for “I would” or “I had” 
Eyed (v.): looked at

Idle (adj.): not working; resting
Idol (n.): something or someone worshiped 
Idyll (n.): a poem or prose composition, usually describing pastoral scenes or events

I’ll (contr.): short for “I will” or “I shall”
Isle (n.): a small island
Aisle (n.) a walkway between seats or sections

Illicit (adj.): illegal; unlawful
Elicit (v.) to bring forth, such as an emotion; to evoke

Are there any words here that are new to you? How will you remember them?