Spelling Practice Hub

Master spelling with rules, word lists, interactive quizzes, and printable worksheets. A complete spelling resource for students of all ages!

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Spelling Rules Essential patterns every speller should know

English spelling can be tricky, but learning a few key rules makes it much easier. These rules cover most everyday words and help you spell with confidence!

The Most Important Rules

I Before E, Except After C

Put i before e in most words, but flip them after the letter c.

believe, friend, piece | receive, ceiling, deceit

Drop the Silent E

When adding a suffix that starts with a vowel, drop the silent e at the end.

make → making | hope → hoping | write → writing

Double the Final Consonant

For short vowel words ending in one consonant, double it before adding -ed or -ing.

run → running | stop → stopped | sit → sitting

Change Y to I

When a word ends in consonant + y, change the y to i before adding a suffix.

happy → happiness | carry → carried | baby → babies

Plurals: Add -ES

Words ending in s, sh, ch, x, z need -es to form the plural.

bus → buses | wish → wishes | box → boxes

Q is Always Followed by U

In English, the letter q is almost always followed by u.

queen, quiet, question, quick, quilt
Memory Trick!

"I before E, except after C, or when sounded as A, as in neighbor and weigh." Exceptions exist (weird, seize, science), but this rhyme covers most words!

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Weekly Spelling Lists Grade-level word lists for regular practice

Practice makes perfect! Choose your grade level and study the weekly word list. Try to spell each word correctly, use it in a sentence, and test yourself at the end of the week.
Study Tip!

Use the Look, Cover, Write, Check method: Look at the word carefully, cover it up, write it from memory, then check if you got it right. Repeat 3 times for each word!

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Silent Letters Letters you write but don't pronounce

Silent letters are letters in a word that you don't hear when you say the word out loud. They can make spelling tricky because you can't rely on sound alone!

Silent K (before N)

knife silent k
knight silent k
know silent k
knee silent k
knock silent k
knot silent k

Silent W (before R)

write silent w
wrong silent w
wrap silent w
wrist silent w
wreck silent w
wrinkle silent w

Silent B (after M or before T)

climb silent b
lamb silent b
thumb silent b
comb silent b
doubt silent b
debt silent b

Silent G (before N)

gnat silent g
gnaw silent g
sign silent g
foreign silent g
design silent g
reign silent g

Silent H

hour silent h
honest silent h
honor silent h
ghost silent h
rhyme silent h
school silent h
Memory Trick!

For silent K words, remember: "The Knight Knew to Knock on the door with his Knee." The K is always silent before N!

Commonly Misspelled Words Words that trip up even good spellers

These words are frequently misspelled by students and adults alike. Study the correct spelling and watch out for the common mistakes!

Top 20 Tricky Words

Common Mistake Correct Spelling Tip to Remember
accomodateaccommodate2 c's and 2 m's
becuasebecauseBig Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants
calendercalendarEnds in -ar, not -er
definatelydefinitelyThere's "finite" inside it
embarassembarrass2 r's and 2 s's
FebuaryFebruaryDon't forget the first R
govermentgovernmentThere's an N before the M
happendhappenedDouble P + -ed ending
independantindependentEnds in -ent, not -ant
jewleryjewelryJewel + ry (no extra e)
knowlegeknowledgeKnow + ledge
libarylibraryDon't skip the first R
mispellmisspellMis + spell = double S
neccessarynecessary1 collar (c) and 2 sleeves (s)
occuredoccurredDouble c and double r
realyreallyReal + ly = double L
seperateseparateThere's "a rat" in separate
tommorowtomorrowOne M, two R's... wait: 1 m, 2 r's
untilluntilOnly one L at the end
WendsdayWednesdayWed-nes-day (say all 3 parts)
Spelling Hack!

Break tricky words into smaller parts: to-mor-row, Feb-ru-ary, Wed-nes-day. Saying each syllable clearly helps you remember every letter!

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Spelling Worksheets Printable activities for practice and review

Download and print these spelling worksheets for hands-on practice. Great for classroom use, homework, or extra study at home!

Fill in the Blanks

Complete sentences with the correct spelling of missing words.

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Unscramble the Words

Rearrange jumbled letters to spell the correct word.

Correct or Wrong?

Identify which words are spelled correctly and fix the wrong ones.

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Spelling Word Search

Find hidden spelling words in a grid of letters.

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Interactive Spelling Quiz Test your spelling skills with instant feedback

Choose a difficulty level and take a spelling quiz! Listen to the word (or read the hint), then type the correct spelling. Get instant feedback on each answer.

Start a Spelling Quiz

Select your level and click Start to begin a 10-question quiz.

Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about spelling practice

The best way to improve spelling is consistent daily practice. Use the Look, Cover, Write, Check method for new words. Read books regularly to see correct spelling in context. Take spelling quizzes (like the one above!) to test yourself, and keep a personal list of words you find tricky. Even 10 minutes a day of focused practice makes a big difference over time.

English borrows words from many languages (Latin, French, Greek, German, and more), and each language has different spelling patterns. That's why English has silent letters, irregular spellings, and words that sound the same but are spelled differently (homophones like "there," "their," and "they're"). Learning the origin of tricky words can sometimes help explain their spelling!

Try these strategies: 1) Group words by their silent letter pattern (all silent K words together, etc.). 2) Exaggerate the silent letter when studying: say "k-nife" or "w-rite" in your head. 3) Create silly sentences using multiple words with the same silent letter. 4) Use flashcards with the silent letter highlighted in a different color. The visual connection helps your brain remember!

For most students, 10-15 words per week is ideal. Younger kids (Grades 1-2) should focus on 8-10 simpler words, while older students (Grades 3-5) can handle 12-15 words. Quality matters more than quantity: it's better to truly master 10 words than to rush through 20. Use our weekly lists above and the interactive quiz to practice throughout the week!

Spell check is a great safety net, but relying on it too much can slow down learning. The best approach is to try spelling words on your own first, then use spell check to verify. When it catches an error, take a moment to learn the correct spelling instead of just clicking "fix." Think of spell check as a teacher who helps you learn, not someone who does your homework for you!