Words that should rhyme but don’t

Tow

Cow

Good food

Sean Bean.

Arkansas

Kansas

In reply to Paris Van Gorder :

The history of how we got Kansas and Arkansas is actually pretty interesting.

I've read a couple of different explanations, but they all follow a similar story: "Kansas" comes from the name of the Kansa tribe that lived in the area. "Arkansas" came from the way the French explorers pronounced the name of the Quapaw tribe, Ecanza.

Bow (as in arrow launcher)

Bow (as in pointy end of the boat)

Read (present tense)
"I have to read the homework"

Read (past tense)
"I'm glad I already read the homework."

Grade A Under A does a bit about English spelling that includes a list of things that should rhyme but don't - or shouldn't but do.

Now, know, knows. 
 

Nose... lose... chose.

Noose and loose are good, but what about choose?

How come choose rhymes with lose?

Ooze and peruse rhyme, but use rhymes with loose (but not with fuse)?  Ok, use can rhyme with either fuse or loose, but not both.

Very relevant song (some NSFW language):

Orange

There are 3 ways to spell two/to/too

In reply to Colin Wood :

I've heard some say it's "our"-kansas... but that seems to make other folks mad, for, well, reasons. 

In reply to z31maniac :

Love his routines! Hadn't seen that one. Thanks. 

stafford1500 said:

There are 3 ways to spell two/to/too

It's twoo, it's twoo! 😂

03Panther said:

In reply to z31maniac :

Love his routines! Hadn't seen that one. Thanks. 

Watching his stuff when I was young is what got me into stand up comedy.

When I did deliveries to the archives, I asked why I grow chives but their office is called the archives. Unfortunately they couldn't give me answer, maybe the hive can. 

See, now, this is why I never, ever give anybody who is ESL any E36 M3 about their spelling or grammar.  English is the Calvinball of languages.

Other languages hammerform loanwords into their spelling norms.  English just keeps the spelling from the language it came from.  Or doesn't.  See above re: Calvinball.

stafford1500 said:

There are 3 ways to spell two/to/too

Tue.

A paring that Margie and JG will appreciate:

golf

wolf

Foodie in a Hoodie... IT RHYMES ON PAPER!!!

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

See, now, this is why I never, ever give anybody who is ESL any E36 M3 about their spelling or grammar.  English is the Calvinball of languages.

 

Other languages hammerform loanwords into their spelling norms.  English just keeps the spelling from the language it came from.  Or doesn't.  See above re: Calvinball.

For some reason this reminded me of a Zach Galafinakis joke from his special "Live at the Purple Onion"

"George Bush is so stupid, he doesn't think the French have a word for entrepreneur."

Here's a good one:

lose

rose