Difference Between Right and Wright

Main Difference – Right vs Wright

The four homophones right, write, rite and wright can be quite a challenge even to the native English speakers. Rite refers to a religious act or ceremony whereas write refers to the act of writing. Right basically means correct or acceptable whereas wright refers to a builder or creator. However, it is not very easy to remember these meanings as all these words sound the same. In this article, we are going to look at the difference between right and wright. The main difference between right and wright is that wright refers to a builder or maker whereas right has many different meanings.

Right – Meaning and Usage

Right, unlike wright, is one of the most commonly used words in the English language. It has numerous meanings and grammatical functions. Right can act as a noun, verb, adjective as well as an adverb. Right has different meanings. The opposite of left is called right. Right is also the opposite of obligation or duty. Let us look at some of these meanings.

Morally correct, good, acceptable

He promised to do the right thing.

A sane person should be able to understand the difference between right and wrong.

I hope we are doing the right thing.

A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

I have a right to defend myself.

It is considered as a violation of human rights.

Everyone have a right to live free.

True or correct

You were absolutely right.

She was right about everything.

Can you guess the correct answer?

Right-hand side (the opposite of left)

He sat on my right.

Her right arm and left had to be amputated.

Take the first right turn.

Satisfactory, in a normal condition

This doesn’t feel right. Something is off.

This meat doesn’t smell right.

Wright – Meaning and Usage

Wright refers to a profession. A wright is a maker or builder. This term generally refers to a worker skilled in the manufacture, especially of wooden objects. Words like playwright (a person who writes plays), shipwright (a person who builds ships), wheelwright (a person who builds or repairs wooden wheels), etc. are derived from this word. Unlike its homophones, wright is not very much used in the modern context. It can be called as an obsolete noun since it is no longer in usage.

But Wright exists in the language as a surname or family name. For example, the Wright brothers Orville refer to the famous American aviation pioneers, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright.