- The correct spelling of the phrase is “It dawned on me”
- “It donned on me” is a a common mistake
It’s challenging when two words sound the same but are spelled differently. These kinds of words are called homophones. They can cause a lot of misunderstandings. Some well-known homophones are there, their, and they’re. Or another example is hair and hare.
Today we will focus on a different set of homophones: Dawn and don. A popular phrase is “it dawned on me,” which means “I became aware of,” or “I understood.” It is incorrect to say “it donned on me.” However, it is a common mistake.
The verb to dawn means “to become visible” and often refers to mental awareness. If something “dawns” on someone, then a new understanding has come their way.
On the other hand, the verb to don means “to put on clothing.” There is also a figurative meaning, which is “to assume,” or “to get into.”
Even though these words have such different meanings, they are pronounced the same.
dawn [dôn] rhymes with yawn and lawn
don [dŏn] rhymes with con, on and Ron
So, the next time you write one of these words, pause and choose your spelling carefully!