by, bye and buy

[nay92]

The words by, bye and buy all sound the same so why cant there be one spelling. I have to admit it helps with there meaning but sometimes when writing i always, not on perpous, seem to put down to the wrong one.

Also what is the name for words that sound the same but arn't spelt the same?

 

[stranger in your midst]

Like 'there' and 'their', huh ?

 

[stranger in your midst]

Is it hononyms ?

 

[nay92]

Oh thanks stranger in the midst who always seems to be everywhere!

 

[stranger in your midst]

Try coming to Scotland where we pronounce 'to', 'too' and 'two' as 'til', tae' and 'twa'... If that would make you any happier !

 

[Lemminkäinen]

The words by, bye and buy all sound the same so why cant there be one spelling. I have to admit it helps with there meaning but sometimes when writing i always, not on perpous, seem to put down to the wrong one.

Why can't there be one spelling? Well, who would decide which one? The reason is that they have different etymologies (histories), and derive from different words.

Also what is the name for words that sound the same but arn't spelt the same?

Homophones. If they're spelt the same but pronounced differently, they're homographs. If they're spelt and pronounced similarly, they're homonyms.