Because of their similar pronunciations, homophones present a serious challenge to writers. This even becomes more difficult if the homophones are also spelled similarly. This is the case with the words wrote and rote. Not only do they sound the same, they also look the same, with only a single “w” separating their spellings. This post will help you distinguish between the two terms in order for you to use them properly in your writing.
The word wrote is the past tense of the verb write which means “to mark letters, words, or other symbols on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement,” “to compose, write, and send a letter to someone,” or “to compose a text or work for written or printed reproduction or publication; put into literary form and set down in writing.”
The house where author JoJo Moyes wrote her bestselling love story ‘Me Before You’ is for sale for £1.5million
Daily MailFamily life: My talented cousin, who wrote for TV; Dublin Blues by Guy Clark; Mum’s fudge
The GuardianNewly-excavated skeletons could help to reveal who wrote the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls
The Independent
On the other hand, the term rote is used as a noun referring to “the use of memory usually with little intelligence” or “mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition.”
Education sector in India: Finally, door shown to rote learning in a decade of transformation
Financial ExpressThis Children’s Day, let’s pledge to eliminate rote learning
Hindustan TimesBengaluru Central varsity colleges stuck with rote learning: Survey
Times of India
Now that we’ve discussed the difference between the words wrote and rote, you should be able to use them more accurately in your sentences. Keep in mind that wrote is the past tense of write while rote is about mindless repetition.