A logicalfallacy used in an argument or debate. When someone attacks the person instead of the subject at hand, usually complete irrelevant and personal.
Guy: I think that the American internment camps for Japanese-Americans were justified.
Betty: Actually, Norma, after analyzing the latest data, including local atmospheric pressure, temperature and cloud characteristics, and the velocity of fronts within a 100 mile radius, I conclude that we will NOT be getting rain soon.
Norma: Well, Betty. It sounds like, when you grow up, you might be quite the mee-tee--a-rol--o--gist.
Betty: Are you calling me FAT?
Norma: ????
Betty: You clearly know nothing about weather, and you try to overcome your ignorance by saying that when I grow up, I'll be a MEATY urologist. Ad hominem attacks have no place in rational discussions.
Norma: No, Betty. Your scientific knowledge actually impresses me. I said you were going to be quite the METEOROLOGIST when you grew up.
Attacking someone's grammar/spelling in debate rather than focusing on their argument. An intentionalplay on the word "ad hominem".
Person A: I think you're argument is illogical. Here are several well-reasoned arguments why I think so.
Person B: It's "your", not "you're". I will now call you names like "illiterate imbecile" while completely ignoring the fact that you pwned me in reason and logic.
Homonyms are words that can be either homophones and/or homographs. Homonyms are a blend of both of them.
A common example might be Mould vs Mold. While these can interchangeably refer to shape / fungus and vice versa, some English language professors ask students to use "Mould" for shaping whereas they should use "Mold" for fungus.