Laager — Lade

homophones

Here’s another edition of Tuesday Tricksters, all in an attempt to keep us sharp as we write in English (American English, anyway). These words defy spellcheck’s ability to help writers, as they are REAL words, but too many times they’re not the ones we meant. They sound the same (or almost, anyway), but their spelling is different and they mean something different.

Moral of the story: Do NOT trust spellcheck to know which word to use!

Laager (n.): a defensive encampment encircled by armored vehicles or wagons, especially by South African Boers

Lager (n.): a type of beer

Logger (n.): one who cuts trees; a lumberjack

 

Lac (n.): a resinous secretion of lac insects, used in making shellac; one hundred thousand (commonly used in Pakistan and India); also spelled lakh

Lack (n.): a shortage or deficiency; (v.): to be missing or insufficient (We lacked proof of his guilt.)

 

Laches (n.): Legal: failure to do the required thing at the proper time (e.g., inexcusable delay in enforcing a claim)

Latches (n.): fasteners; (v.): to fasten; to secure

 

Lacks (v.): does not have enough (He lacks enough money to buy the car.)

Lax (adj.): not careful; careless; not strict or rigid

 

Lade (v.): to fill or load (related to cargo or a shipment); to weigh down, oppress, or burden; to use a ladle or dipper (to lade water out of a tub, or into a cistern)

Laid (v.): to place or put something down (He laid the book on the table.)

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