Definitions
Flew is the past tense of the verb 'fly', which means to move through the air using wings or some other kind of propulsion.
Example
The bird flew away when it saw me coming.
Example
We flew to Paris for our honeymoon.
Flu, short for influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and can sometimes lead to death.
Example
I caught the flu and had to stay in bed for a week.
Example
Getting a flu shot every year can help prevent the flu.
Flue is a noun that refers to a duct or pipe in a chimney for carrying smoke and gases out of a building.
Example
The flue of the fireplace was clogged with soot.
Example
The chimney sweep cleaned the flue to prevent a fire.
Tips To Remember the Differences
Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:
To remember the difference between these homophones, you could associate flew with flying through the air, flu with an illness that can make you feel like you're flying through the air (because of symptoms like dizziness), and flue with the pipe in a chimney that carries smoke up and out of the house.
Remember this!
Remember, flew is the past tense of 'fly', flu is a contagious respiratory illness, and flue is a pipe in a chimney.
