They're called....

HOMOPHONES
Since the English language is a less
than logical construct, these
errors can invariably be found in
the works of authors who
rely on 'ear-spelling'...
to the detriment of their
compositions and the
irate consternation of this
poor Kappa.
(now that you mention it..
I think that devilish "Spell-Check"
is the one to blame...)
Writers really should keep a
Dictionary* handy.
*"Dictionary" (n) def: a book that lists
the words of a language in alphabetical
order and gives their meaning.."

^^^^^^
homophone: a word of the same
sound as another but of different
spelling and meaning.
Herewith a compilation to date:
prey-pray
throws-throes(even the great "D" erred on this one--she
had somebody writhing in the 'throws' of an emotion..tsk!)
peel-peal(ahem:'peal' is what bells do when they ring;
'peel' is not only the rind of fruit, it is the better verb choice
when a vehicle accelerates very rapidly,i.e. "peeling out")
(may refer to the removal of the tire's outer layer by the
friction of its spinning in place against the road surface)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
reed-read
won-one
red-read
pried-pride
rough-ruff
will-well
bale*-bail
gate-gait
peek-peak-pique
they're-there-their
but-butt
wale-wail-whale
coarse-course
key-quay
tale-tail
sale-sail
hale-hail
pale-pail
male-mail
rale-rail
vale-veil
vile-vial
wine-whine
while-wile
bough-bow
knew-new
know-no
vain-vane
rain-reign-rein
close-clothes
weight-wait
bear-bare
nun-none
whey-way-weigh
thrown-throne
chews-choose
pore-pour-poor
mourning-morning
break-brake
here-hear
weak-week
cokes-coax
forth-fourth
do-due
born-bourn
8-10:once again I'm cursing that idiot "spell check"
one of the best(favorite)writers accepted "taught"
when really intending to tighten a cord..as in... taut
====
& the almost unforgivable...
lair-layer(!!)
***********
dagnabit! 9-9-07:
I just saw it written (on FF)
as... Liar(truly unforgivable!)
=======
btw:here's the mnemonic:
one 'aitch' & one word...
NORTHAMPTON
got it?..'nuf said.
==============
*collective noun for turtles...
=================
somebody else had the same idea..
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4129686/1/Donatellos_Tutorial_on_Spelling_and_Grammar
strongly recommend this fine
exposition!!!and since the creator
of this work has a few other things worthy
of your consideration--
I'm listing the author here:
**********
panda1418(o)[8-07]pd
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1348941/panda1418
Old Wounds(11-07)
Things We Learned From TMNT(11-07)
(don't miss this!! hilarious!& take
particular note of nr.20!
op.cit.'Donatello',(Micro-Series)
cprt:1986; pp.2, 31
Those Nights(12-07)
Donatello's Tutorial...(3-08)
{see 'link' above}
Shellshocked(3-08)
April's Rain(9-08)
*********************