In recent segments, we told you about homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. We couldn’t get all the really horrid examples into one segment. Here’s more:

1. A symbol of Queen Elizabeth’s rein has been the many photos of her on horseback, reigns in hand.

A royal term is a reign. The things you use to steer horses are reins.

2. Drink “Ensure” to insure against brittle bones.

In this case, you have to use “ensure” twice. “Insure” isn’t colloquial; it deals strictly with the insurance industry.

3. The new faze of the moon didn’t phase her.

The phase didn’t faze.

4. He was weary of strangers and wary from having stayed awake all night.

He was wary of strangers and weary from being up all night. “Wary” means watchful. “Weary” means tired.

5. There’s one shocking death that ranks, for me, among the grizzliest (in a good way) in all movies.

This actually appeared in a national entertainment magazine. Unless a bear shot the guy, this was the grisliest.

6. I looked at the puppies and all I could say was “awe.”

You might have been in awe of the puppies, but you were saying, “aww.”

7. The nurse was a real trooper.

The term, for someone who overcomes obstacles, is spelled “trouper.” It’s a reference to show-business troupes whose members followed the edict, “the show must go on.” A trooper would be a soldier or a law enforcement officer.

8. The student poured over her textbook.

Nope. She pored over her textbook for hours, even after she accidentally poured coffee over it.

9. He was supposably a descendant of Napoleon. I didn’t believe it.

Wish we could say “supposably” isn’t a word. It is, but it has an obscure meaning and almost always is used wrong. It means “conceivably.” If you’re suggesting cynicism, you want “supposedly.”

10. Go outside and close the spiget. Go outside and close the spicket.

The outdoor faucet is a spigot.

Watch this on video! https://youtu.be/IbiDXmT8y8w

Next time: “Dead. Murdered. And somebody’s responsible!”

Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong," features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police:” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we properly can credit you. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com

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NOTE: Eliot and Lou Ann are available for speaking engagements, and can travel. Reach us through the comments section. Just think of all of your employees getting back to work on a Monday, their heads filled with all the ways we’ve shown them to be better communicators!