flare, flair

Flare or flare means the burning torch used as a warning or a call for help, whether it is launched into the air or set on a stand--
They sent up a signal flare every twenty minutes, hoping a ship would see it and come to their rescue.
The police came and lit a flare, so that the disabled car wouldn't cause an accident.

Flare also means to burn or blaze, especially suddenly or erratically, literally or figuratively--
The wind made the candle flare and die out.
He has a tendency to let his temper flare at the least provocation.

Flare also means to spread gradually or widen at the end--
She wants the skirt to flare, so it will look good when she skates.
He wants his pants to flare like the end of a trumpet.

Flair or flair ( rhymes with flare ) means a special knack, style or panache--
He always does things with a certain flair.
I think those old things are tacky, but he thinks they have flair.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She is so out of it that she thinks pants that flare at the bottom have flair."

browse, brows

Browse or browse means to look through idly, or to look at goods for sale in a shop or catalog--
I am just going to browse--I probably won't buy anything.
He liked to sit and browse through the new catalogs.

Brows or brows ( rhymes with browse ) is the plural of "brow", meaning the line of hair above the eye--
In the 1940's, many women removed their  brows and drew on new ones.
She dyed her hair blonde, but her brows didn't match.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The salesman furrowed his brows and made a face when she said they were just going to browse."

Note--"browse" is a verb ( action word, or something you do )--
I browse, he browses, you browse, we are all browsing.
Yesterday we browsed.
Tomorrow we will browse.
"Brow" is a noun (  thing or idea ), with singular and plural forms--
He only had one brow that stretched from one eye to the other, like Bert.
His brows were still dark, although his hair had turned white.
Note # 2--a "browser" will help you to look through internet sites--
Maybe you would like a different browser.  Have you tried any of the others?
A "browser" might also be a customer who is just looking, or window-shopping--
He hoped to make a sale, but the man was only a browser.

atone, a tone, at one

Atone or atone ( one word ) means to make amends or restitution; to make up for past misdeeds--
He volunteered for several charities, in an effort to atone for his misspent youth.
His counselor suggested that he atone for his sins through good works.

A tone or a tone ( two words ) means one tone, or one musical note, type of sound, or measure of sound quality--
This instrument has a tone very similar to a recorder or oboe.
Tone also means a note or show of emotion or attitude, in a voice or sound--
She had a tone in her voice that betrayed her anger.

At one or at one ( two words ) most commonly means at one o'clock--
"We get up at noon and start to work at one, take an hour for lunch and then at two we're done..."
We are due back from lunch at one.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"At one he used a tone of apology, in an effort to atone for the offense he had given at noon."

independence, dependence, dependents, independents

Independence or independence means the state or condition of being free from subjection to, from the influence of, or from the need for support--
Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July.
They encouraged independence in their children, and hoped they would all make their own decisions.

Dependence or dependence means the state or condition of relying on the care or support of, financially or emotionally--
The physical dependence caused by his disability often left him frustrated and angry.
Her dependence and tendency to cling were the main reasons he asked for a divorce.

Independents or independents ( rhymes with independence ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "independent", a noun ( thing or idea ), meaning someone free from the influence or constraints of, or from allegiance to--
The Hollywood film directors often envied the independents.
The independents will decide this vote, as the republicans and democrats seem to be tied.

Dependents or dependents ( rhymes with dependence ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "dependent", a noun ( thing or idea ) meaning a person or thing that relies upon another--
They have four dependents, so their taxes are much lower than ours.
He bought enough life insurance to care for his dependents until they reached adulthood.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His dependence on the approval of the crowd lost him the respect of his fellow independents, who prided themselves on their independence, and shunned the studio system that made its dependents secure."

Note--"dependent" and "independent" are also adjectives ( words that describe something or someone ).
Dependent describes someone or something that relies upon someone or something else--
His accident left him dependent on others for care.
A dependent variable has a value determined by  the value of another variable, as in x=2y.
Independent describes someone who is free from reliance on others, or from subjection to, or the influence of others--
"Independent" was once a voter registration category--now it's called "unaffiliated".
Independent also describes something determined by a separate cause, or free from reliance on something else--
An independent clause has its own subject and verb.

moan, mown

Moan or moan means to make a low sound, from pain or despair--
They were startled when they heard someone moan.
He liked to moan or sigh at every disappointment, no matter how trivial.

Moan may mean the low sound, made in pain or despair--
He let out a moan of despair when he heard the news.
We can hear a moan, but we can't find the dog.

Mown or mown ( rhymes with moan ) is a past participle ( used with a helper verb, or to describe something  ) of "mow", meaning to cut grass or other plants to a low, even level--
He checked to make sure the lawn had been mown.
She liked the smell of new-mown hay.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We heard him moan when he learned that his keys were lost in the new-mown grass."

tense, tents, intense, in tents

Tense or tense means strained or stretched taut--
The cord was so tense that it snapped.
She was tense, and her nerves were frayed.

Tense is also a  grammar term, meaning the form a verb ( action word ) takes to express the past, present, or future--when the action was begun, or when it ended--
The verb "to be" has an irregular past tense--was or were.
The future tense of "to be" is "will be".

Tents or tents ( rhymes with tense ) is the plural of "tent", meaning a canvas or nylon portable dwelling--
They pitched their tents at the edge of the woods.
He bought some army surplus tents, for camping next summer.

Intense or intense ( one word )  means to a strong or extreme degree, literally or figuratively--
His anger was so intense that he was speechless.
The sunlight was so intense that it hurt his eyes.
The intense heat made them all feel tired.

Intents ( one word )  is usually only found in the familiar expression "all intents and purposes", meaning for all practical purposes--
His work is now useless, for all intents and purposes.

In tents ( two words ) means within or inside of a canvas or nylon portable dwelling--
We rented cabins this year. Next year we plan to camp in tents.
The army camps in tents.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Next time we won't camp in tents. The intense heat made everyone in the tents feel tense and tired. For all intents and purposes, the tents were a nightmare."

Note--"intent" means purpose or goal--
He made his intent to rob the bank clear when he brandished a weapon.
Intent also means fixed on or determined--
He seems intent on finding a new job; he's fed up with this one.

Note # 2--"tens" ( tenz) means the number column used to add up figures that are multiples of ten--
Make sure to keep the ones in the ones column and the tens in the tens column.
"Tens" may also be the plural of ten-dollar bills--
I'd like that in fives and tens, please.
I'd like that in tens and twenties, please.

runway, runaway, run away

Runway or runway means the paved strip that an airplane uses to land or take off--
They were still waving good-bye as the plane taxied down the runway.
Runway may also mean a narrow platform, ramp, or paved strip--
The photographers crowded around the runway to get a better view of the fashion models.

Runaway or runaway ( one word ) means someone who has left home or fled from parents or  home--
The parents of a runaway have put up notices with his picture on them.
The runaway was found and is now in foster care.

Runaway, historically, might have described a slave, indentured servant, or apprentice--
Here's an 18th century advertisement, placed by someone searching for a runaway apprentice.
In the 1860's, legal authorities in the northern states refused to punish people who helped a runaway slave.

Runaway may describe something that has escaped limits or control--
There's no driver! It's a runaway train!
The children all liked the story about the runaway soup.

Run away or run away ( two words ) means to leave home without permission, as a teenager--
The teenager threatened to run away whenever he became angry.
Run away also means to flee from danger or a problem, literally or figuratively--
He watched them run away after they heard the noise.
His father taught him that it was smarter to run away than to get into a fight.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They sped down the runway in an attempt to run away from the runaway baggage cart."

Note--"run a way" ( three words) might fit into a sensible sentence, but I can't think of one.