spelling and meaning (continued)

to / too / two

To can be a preposition or an adverb. To does not have a definable meaning; it facilitates expressions, e.g., a prepositional phrase. Too is an adverb. Too means also, or excessive. Two is a noun. Two means a specific quantity, or second place in a sequence.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question. . . ." (From Shakespeare's Hamlet)
I want to be in the band.
I will send your request to the superintendent.
Your age is close to mine.
I ate too much.
I, too, am prepared to do my duty.
Here are two brooms, one for each of you.
Those two went to Chicago, too.

track / tract

Track is a noun. Track means path, or guide. Tract is a noun. Tract means area of land, or a pamphlet.

A US transcontinental railroad became reality on May 10, 1869, when the Union Pacific track and the Central Pacific track were joined at Promontory, Utah.
US 40, the "Old National Road," followed a bison track through Indiana.
During the Great Depression the Federal Government purchased a 700,000 acre tract of land on the Cumberland Plateau, named it Daniel Boone National Forest, and gave it protection against rapacious exploitation.
They were at the shopping center, today, distributing a tract promoting their cause.

waive / wave

Waive is a verb. Waive means relinquish a right, or put aside a rule. Wave is a verb. Wave means signal, or undulating motion.

We are going to waive the rule and allow you to play in the game.
Someone in that car waved at me.
The wave washed over the bow and drenched everyone on deck.

weak / week

Weak is an adjective. Weak means lacking strength. Week is a noun. Week means a period of seven days.

Children living in war zones are often malnourished and very weak.
Spring break will be the second week of April.

weather / whether

Weather can be a noun, verb, or adjective. Weather means state of the earth's atmosphere. Whether is a conjunction. Whether means if, or alternative.

The weather report indicates heavy rain today.
I like the people and culture of the northeast, but I don't like the weather.
The weather is good for sailing.
I am going to the beach whether the weather is fair or foul.
Before we attempt the trip, shouldn't we find out whether the road is open?

hole / whole

Hole is a noun. Hole means cavity, or depression. Whole is an adjective. Whole means entire, or all.

A meteor crater is a big hole that formed when a meteorite collided with our planet.
I am going to patch the hole in my boat.
The whole tour group visited Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
They ate the whole pizza!

your / you're

Your is classified as a pronoun by some authorities and classified as an adjective by other authorities if it is followed by a noun. Traditionally, it has been classified as a personal, possessive pronoun. You're is a contraction of a pronoun and a verb: you are.

Your mail is on your desk.
You're late today.
Your boss believes you're coming to the meeting.