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Eye Halve a Spelling Chequer
Anonymous

Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online.

Read the poem below, in which the correct words have been substituted by homophones (two or more words that are spelt differently, but pronounced the same), and then do an activity about it. When you have finished, see the poem in correct English. Finally, do some writing yourself.

You can also listen to this poem:
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(See/print audio script) (pdf doc)

Eye Halve a Spelling Chequer

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its really ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

(Sauce unknown)

Correct English version

I have a spelling checker
It came with my PC
It plainly marks for my review
Mistakes I cannot see

I strike a key and type a word
And wait for it to say
Whether I am wrong or right
It shows me straight away

As soon as a mistake is made
It knows before too long
And I can put the error right
It’s really ever wrong

I have run this poem through it
I am sure you’re pleased to know
It’s letter perfect in its way
My checker told me so

(Source unknown)

Your turn

Write a poem using homophones. Substitute the correct words for the incorrect ones. Send it to us.

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