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In Jim Wegryn’s book, A Barrel Full of Words: A Treasury of Wordplay in his chapter on homophones, he introduces a fun concept he calls dittograms. According to Jim, dittograms are words or phrases with repeated sounds. “The trick is to see how many dittograms you can get into one coherent sentence,” he says.
For example, here are a few I liked from the book:
- On breezy days Gale couldn’t find stationary stationery for his novel novel.
- A noise annoys the principle principal.
- In the Vatican, a popery potpourri comes from sealing ceiling art.
I gave it a try and though I wasn’t able to get two different sets of homophones in one sentence, I was able to score a homophone triplet.
She went to two tutu stores but they were all out of her size.
I had a lot of fun coming up with a few others, but they’re a little dirty for this site. However, we’d love to read some of our pros’ prose. If you think up some clean good ones, drop ‘em in the comments.
Comments (15)
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She went,too,to two tutu stores…
posted by Jim on 11-10-2006 at 1:02 pm
Occasionally, the seven seas seize a ship and sink it when the sailor’s son’s sun is reflected in the mirror blinding the navigator who misses the route’s roots and sets a coarse course for shore.
Whew!
posted by Adrienne on 11-10-2006 at 1:57 pm
Ne’er e’er err, Herr heir, ere their ire for Eyre airs her Eire hair.
Her weary ear here hears your eerie, aery aerie near the Aire eyre.
posted by Papageno on 11-10-2006 at 2:58 pm
John Lennon used to be very good in wordplay. If you like it, you might want to read his books.
posted by Sarit on 11-10-2006 at 3:46 pm
Nice ones, guys! Very impressed. And Jim, tou-che!
posted by David on 11-10-2006 at 3:49 pm
My history? No, your yore is more interesting with its weak week on the market due to futures of yacht sails sales. It was good-by, buy! This was after your broker warned you about the grape wither, whither you murmured your wine whine.
posted by Adrienne on 11-10-2006 at 5:56 pm
She went to two tutu stores for a four, but they were out of that size. or does the “a” negate the attempt?
posted by Larriann on 11-10-2006 at 6:26 pm
“Oar or ore?” asked the captain. “Pay me or for your roe, row.”
posted by Adrienne on 11-10-2006 at 7:33 pm
The way I think can grate great minds.
posted by Kim on 11-11-2006 at 11:13 am
When will the wind wend it’s way around the mountain?
Will Will’s will be read after Wendy’s windy eulogy?
It’s about time Time magazine arrived!
C’mon Carrie carry the load correctly!
I train train conductors.
The plain plane planed as planned.
A litterer alliterated as she alit a lit level.
posted by Joslyn on 11-13-2006 at 10:57 am
Men tell Mental_Floss, “Flaws are foreign. Our four informants form answers, sirs!”
posted by Bryan on 11-13-2006 at 12:47 pm
Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo.
posted by Mike on 11-9-2007 at 1:32 pm
It was a Grade A grey day.
posted by Ian on 11-9-2007 at 11:28 pm
I blew blue bubbles and read “Red Dawn” while I ate eight petite petitefours for four days.
God I’m good!
posted by jeffcomedy on 11-10-2007 at 3:34 pm
And I know this isn’t part of the game, but this reminded me of something. When a certain movie came out, I went up to the ticket counter and said,
“Two for Seven for 9:30″
The poor girls head almost exploded trying to figure out if I was ordering tickets or giving her my phone number.
posted by jeffcomedy on 11-10-2007 at 3:41 pm