Mask is used as a noun or a verb, related words are masks, masked, masking. Mask may also mean to conceal a particular trait that a person has or a person’s true personality or motives. The word mask is also used figuratively to mean something that conceals a person like a cosmetic. A mask may be worn to disguise one’s identity for criminal purposes, for recreation, or as entertainment. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words mask and masque, the word origin of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences.Ī mask is a device that covers or partially covers one’s face. Even a participant in a spelling bee like the National Spelling Bee will ask for an example of a homophone in a sentence, so that she understands which word she is to spell by using context clues. A spell checker will rarely find this type of mistake in English vocabulary, so do not rely on spell check but instead, learn to spell.

Homophones are confusing words and are commonly misspelled words because of the confusion that arises from words that are pronounced alike but have very different usage and etymology. For instance, the word threw is derived from the Old English word thrawan, and the word through came from the Old English word thurh. English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their sound. Phonological spelling and spelling rules do not always work, and most people avoid misspelling by studying vocabulary words from spelling lists, enhancing their literacy skills through spelling practice, and learning words in English by studying a dictionary of the English language. Pronunciation may change even though the spelling doesn’t, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. Pronunciation is usually more ambiguous, as English pronunciation may vary according to dialect, and English spelling is constantly evolving. Proper pronunciation of spoken English may help the listener distinguish between homophones and understand the correct spelling the words affect-effect are a good example, but the words to, too and two, or horse and hoarse, are indistinguishable from each other and are commonly misused.

The way the spelling and definitions differ can be confusing even to native English speakers when attempting to learn vocabulary correctly.

It can be difficult to learn how to spell different words that sound the same. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language, and are a challenge for those who wish to learn to speak English. Homophones are a group of words with different spellings, the same pronunciations, and different meanings. Mask and masque are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones.

Another word for hiding behind a mkas