Dealing With Aural Errors

 Description:

A spelling error of words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings. An example would be “weather” and “whether.”

Uses:

Grammatically-speaking, there is no acceptable instance where aural errors are OK. They are, as the name suggests, errors. The only possible way an aural error may be used without mistake is if it’s intentional, such as if a writer is trying to be witty. For instance, if said writer says that her essay is “the write answer.”

Misuse:

At times, aural errors can result from dictation, with the error being made by the person taking the dictation/transcribing. It happens because the person may be writing “by ear,” which can lead to the original misspelling. The word “aural” pertains to the ear or the sense of hearing; thus, the term “aural errors.”

In any case, it is a spelling error that can change the meaning of a sentence or make it nonsensical. Here is a list of common aural errors. 

1. whether / a conjunction that introduces two or more alternatives. Also used to introduce a single alternative, with the other implied. e.g. “I don’t care whether you stay or go.”; “Ask them whether or not they saw the movie.”
2. weather / word referring to the state of the atmosphere, including sunshine, precipitation, wind, and temperature.

 

1. there / a place in point as opposed to “here.”
2. their / a possessive pronoun that refers to a stated group or collective noun. e.g. “The students took their advanced courses seriously.”

 

1. write / the expression of thoughts, ideas, etc. via the written word.
2. right / the opposite of wrong; to be correct.

 

1. it’s / a contraction for the term “it is.”
2. its / a possessive form of “it.” e.g. “The carriage looked beautiful with its gold trimming and bejeweled handles.”

 

1. you’re / a contraction for the term “you are.”
2. your / a possessive form of “you.” e.g. “Did you bring your backpack?”