Spelling and vocabulary are more closely linked than we might realise. While spelling is often viewed as a set of rules for writing words correctly, it also plays a key role in helping students build and expand their vocabulary. In this blog, we’ll explore how strong spelling skills can enhance vocabulary growth, boost reading comprehension, and build confidence when it comes to using new words. Understanding Word Patterns Spelling helps us see patterns in words. By learning to spell, we become more familiar with common letter combinations, suffixes, prefixes, and word roots. This awareness of patterns makes it easier to recognise and understand new words. For example, ...
With the right words, you can choose what you want to guide your reader’s attention to. Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at sentence starters for different purposes: introducing, expanding, and illustrating ideas, demonstrating cause and effect, and linking contrasting ideas. Here are 24 sentence starters to help you emphasise a point: Above all Above all, mastering grammar is essential for effective communication. All things considered All things considered, a strong foundation in literacy skills is important for academic success. As a rule As a rule, regular practice is the key to improving one's English proficiency. Assu...
The right words give you the power to connect different ideas and give your reader an idea of what to expect. So far in this series, we’ve shared sentence starters you can use to introduce, expand on, or illustrate an idea and sentence starters that demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between two ideas. Think of today’s words as bridges that allow you to smoothly guide your reader from one idea to a contrasting one. Alternatively You may wish to check spellings in the dictionary. Alternatively, using a spellchecker may be quicker. Although Although English grammar can be complex, many students excel with at it practice and...
When you are writing, the words you choose to begin a sentence are really important. The right words will give you the power to connect different ideas and show your reader what to expect. Last week, we looked shared sentence starters you can use to introduce, expand on, or illustrate and idea. Here are 15 sentence starters that demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between two ideas: Accordingly She diligently studied spelling rules every day. Accordingly, her spelling skills improved significantly. As a consequence As a consequence of his persistent efforts in English language classes, he improved his English and earned top grades. ...
The way you begin a sentence is crucial. Selecting the right word will guide your reader through your work and show them what they can expect from the rest of the sentence. In this blog post, we will share 20 sentence starters you can use to introduce, expand on, or illustrate ideas. These words will help you express your thoughts clearly and keep your readers engaged. Look at the example sentence next to each sentence starter to see it used in context. Additionally Additionally, using a spellchecker will help you find spelling mistakes. Again Again, it's important to spell words correctly to make your writing look professional. Along with Along with ...
Want to make your writing more energetic? From a leaf trembling in the wind to an adventurer clambering up a mountain, our collection of 150 verbs includes movements big and small, fast and slow, animated and languid. These doing words will give you the tools to describe actions in a detailed way and make your storytelling more interesting. Let’s begin… accelerate: to increase in speed or velocity ascend: to move upward, typically in a steady manner amble: to walk slowly and casually bike: to ride a bicycle bolt: to move suddenly and rapidly bounce: to spring back after hitting a surface bound: to move forward with big leaps brake: to apply ...
Do you want to become a more powerful writer? Last week, we shared 150 adjectives to try instead of using the word ‘very’ to emphasise your point. Here are 150 more words: very impatient: restless, antsy, fidgety, agitated, eager very lazy: slothful, idle, sluggish, inactive, indolent very lively: energetic, vivacious, animated, spirited, dynamic very loud: deafening, thunderous, booming, resounding, cacophonous very messy: disorganised, untidy, chaotic, cluttered, dishevelled very neat: tidy, organised, orderly, immaculate, uncluttered very nervous: anxious, jittery, edgy, apprehensive, t...
Do you want to make your writing more compelling? Stop using the word ‘very’ to emphasise your point! Here are 150 adjectives to try instead: very angry: furious, enraged, incensed, livid, irate very annoying: irritating, bothersome, vexing, grating, exasperating very bad: terrible, dreadful, abysmal, horrendous, atrocious very beautiful: gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking, exquisite, radiant very big: enormous, massive, colossal, gigantic, immense very bitter: acrid, pungent, sharp, biting, acerbic very brave: courageous, valiant, fearless, heroic, bold very bright: brilliant, daz...
abashed – feeling uneasy and self-conscious He looked abashed when I pointed out his mistake. ashamed – feeling shame, guilt, or remorse I am ashamed about the way I behaved. awkward – feeling out of place, uncomfortable or unsure The conversation made us feel awkward. blushing – physically turning red from embarrassment You are blushing. cringing – physically recoiling from embarrassment We were cringing when we heard the story. flustered – feeling confused or agitated from awkwardness or embarrassment I was flustered when the teacher asked me for the answer. humiliated...
calm – quiet and peaceful (often after a state of agitation) Now that the storm was over, it was a calm night. hushed – softened or muted in tone We heard the sound of hushed voices. muffled – soft in tone and unclear, difficult to hear There came the muffled sound of footsteps. muted – softened in tone The sound of their voices was muted by the wall between us and them. noiseless – marked by the absence of sound She expected the room to be noiseless. peaceful – quiet and calm (often after a state of agitation) After a day of meetings, she spent a peaceful hour walking in the woods. &n...
acquaintance – a casual friend who you may not know very well She is an acquaintance from the gym. bestie – abbreviation of best friend We’ve been besties since we were children. buddy – a close or casual friend, an informal term for friend My buddies and I like to go camping. chum – a close or casual friend, an informal term for friend He is attending a reunion with his school chum. companion – a close friend who is often in your company You have been a wonderful companion to me. comrade – a fellow member of an organisation or political group My comrades and I will sta...
astonished – excited and overwhelmed by surprise or shock We were astonished when the magician disappeared. astounded – overwhelmed by surprise or shock The teacher was astounded by her student’s excellent spelling score. flabbergasted – extremely surprised or astonished I was flabbergasted when she told me she loved me. flummoxed – surprised and confused to the point of not knowing how to react We were flummoxed by the mysterious phone call. nonplussed – surprised and confused to the point of not knowing how to react He was nonplussed by the question. shocked – extrem...
brilliant – very good, beyond what is usual or expected We had a brilliant time at the beach. excellent – very good, extremely high in quality The teacher said my homework was excellent. exceptional – very good, beyond what is usual or expected The restaurant serves exceptional food. fabulous – extremely pleasing The teacher was wearing a fabulous green jacket. fantastic – extremely or extravagantly good He was fantastic in the school play. marvellous – extremely good, like a miracle George concocted a marvellous medicine. outstanding – ...
To celebrate Easter week, we’ve got a 10 Words… blog post with a twist. How do you like your eggs in the morning? fried - a fried egg is cooked by cracking an egg into hot oil or butter in frying pan On Sundays I have fried egg and bacon for breakfast. sunny-side-up - a sunny-side-up egg is only fried on one side so the yolk remains a deep yellow colour and is runny She preferred her eggs sunny-side-up to over-easy. over-easy - an over-easy fried egg is flipped over so that the top is also cooked lightly She preferred over-easy eggs to sunny-side-up. soft-boiled - soft-boiled egg is boiled while still in its...
bellowed – uttered loudly (like the sound of an animal) ‘Stop!’ she bellowed. croaked – uttered in a harsh and hoarse way (like a frog) ‘My throat hurts,’ he croaked. groaned – uttered in a way that expresses pain or disapproval ‘We don’t want to,’ the children groaned when their father told them to brush their teeth. grunted – uttered in a way that sounds like the short low gruff noise made by hogs ‘I suppose so,’ she grunted. mumbled – uttered in a soft and indistinct tone ‘I don’t want to,’ the ch...
depressed – in a state of severe unhappiness or despondancy She was depressed so sought help from her doctor. downhearted – in low spirits I feel downhearted about my chances of winning. gloomy – filled with melancholy and despondency Eeyore is a gloomy character. glum – moody and melancholic The rain made me feel glum. heartbroken – full of sorrow He was heartbroken when his husband left him. inconsolable – sad beyond comforting, incapable of being consoled The mourners were inconsolable at the funeral. ...
In our 10 Words blog feature we help you expand your vocabulary by choosing a word and offering 10 other words that that you can use instead. Here is a list of all our 10 Words articles: 10 Words for… ANGRY 10 Words for ... BIG 10 Words for … COLD 10 Words for … FAST 10 Words for … FUNNY 10 Words for … GOOD 10 Words for... HAPPY 10 Words for … HARDWORKING 10 Words for… HELLO 10 Words for … HOT 10 Words for... LOVE 10 Words for … NICE 10 Words for … SAD 10 Words for ... SAID 10 Words for...SCARY 10 Words for … SMALL 10 Words for … SU...
colossal – so great in size that it elicits awe The thieves stole a colossal amount of money. enormous – extraordinarily large in size Have you read the book about the enormous crocodile? gigantic – giant in size The ship was gigantic. ginormous – giant in size, a blend of giant and enormous My friend’s new house is ginormous. huge – unusually large in size I bought myself a huge bunch of flowers. humongous – unusually large in size, a blend of huge and enormous My family is humongous. immense – unusually great in size or scope&n...
breakneck – at very high speed, dangerously fast The plane flew at breakneck speed. We ran at breakneck speed to try and make it to the bus stop on time. brisk – quick and energetic We went on a brisk morning walk. They travelled against at a brisk pace. expeditious – marked by speed and efficiency The investigation was completed in an expeditious manner. We would like an expeditious resolution to this problem. hasty – excessively quick We made a hasty getaway. ‘Don’t you think it was a bit of a hasty decision?’ his mother asked. nimble – quick...
amusing – providing enjoyment or provoking laughter She told an amusing joke. comic – arousing or provoking laughter, related to comedy The actor had great comic timing. droll – comic in an unexpected and dry way He enjoyed droll satire. farcical – extravagantly and absurdly funny, like a farce She had to laugh at the farcical turn of events. hilarious – extremely funny Did you watch the hilarious video? humorous – funny, causing laughter The film was humorous. riotous – extremely funny, causing wild and out-of-control laug...
It’s not long until Valentine’s Day and this month we’ve got a 10 Words blog post with a twist for you. How many of these pet names for loved ones do you know? babe/baby – a pet name for a loved one, implies intimacy ‘I love you, babe,’ he said. I love you, baby,’ he said. love – an affectionate way of addressing someone, from the verb ‘to love’ ‘Are you okay, love?’ she asked. beautiful – a pet name for a loved one, from the adjective ‘beautiful’ ‘Good morning, beautiful,’ she whispered to me. cutie – a pet na...
dinky – sweetly small and neat in British English, small and insignificant in American English We ate at that dinky café on the corner. He lives in a dinky apartment on the other side of town. diminutive – extremely or unusually small She saw a diminutive figure in the distance. little – small in size (used both affectionately and condescendingly) They live in an adorable little cottage in the country. Their cottage is so little. mini, miniature – a small version of something I’m wearing a mini skirt tonight. Do you like my miniature doll’s house? miniscule &n...
Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers in the USA! Today, we are sharing a 10 Words blog post with a twist. Here are ten ways to express gratitude in English: Thanks – a shortening of ‘thank you’ Thanks for you help. Cheers – an informal way of expressing gratitude or well wishes in British English ‘Cheers mate,’ she said when her friend lent her a book. Ta – an informal way of saying ‘thank you’ in British English ‘Ta,’ said the shopkeeper when the woman handed over her payment. Thank you very much – a more formal and more effusive way of expre...
arctic – extremely cold, like in arctic regions The weather channel says we can expect arctic conditions next week. biting – causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold The wind was biting. bitter – causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold We walked through a bitter storm. chilly – lacking warmth of feeling I look forward to the chilly Autumn weather because I love wearing cosy jumpers. cool – neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat The cool breeze was extremely welcome on the hot day. crisp – pleasantly ...
Not long until Halloween! Here are 10 different ways to say something is scary: bloodcurdling – extremely alarming The banshee gave a bloodcurdling shriek. chilling – terror provoking There was a chilling scream and then silence returned to the graveyard. creepy – causing the sensation that there are things crawling on your skin We heard creepy music coming from the basement, but when we checked there was no one there. eerie – suggestive of the supernatural, strange and frightening An eerie silence descended over the house. frightening – causing t...
drained – very tired, emptied of energy We were drained after our first week back at school. drowsy – half asleep My medication makes me drowsy. exhausted – extremely tired, depleted of energy We were exhausted after our day at the beach. fatigued – extremely tired, drained of energy I was fatigued after our long drive. jet-lagged – extremely tired due to flying from one time zone to another It took me a week to stop feeling jet-lagged after our holiday to America. knackered – very tired I don’t know about you, but I’m knackered after that ...
Whether you love or hate this August heat, here are 10 words to help you describe it. blistering – (figuratively) hot enough to raise blisters I can’t work in this blistering heat. boiling (figuratively) hot enough to change something from a liquid to a gas I was boiling so I took off my cardigan. humid – containing or characterised by a great deal of water vapour It was a humid day and she was dripping with sweat. piping – extremely hot Despite the piping hot weather, he stayed indoors. roasting – (figuratively) hot enough to cook You must be roasting with that c...
For this month's 10 Words feature, we’ve chosen a word that we’ve occasionally heard teachers describe as their nemesis: nice. Here are 10 alternatives you can use instead: affable – diffusing warmth and friendliness My sister was in an affable mood and agreed to lend me her bike. amusing – providing enjoyment, pleasantly entertaining, arousing or provoking laughter She was a friendly and amusing person. charming – pleasing or delighting Her friends adored her mother who was charming and always knew the right thing to say. delightful – greatly pleasing or ent...
While we are on lockdown, it is important to get inventive with how we stay connected with our friends, families, and communities. We’ve heard wonderful stories about virtual lessons and games nights, neighbours exchanging phone numbers for the first time, and children putting artwork up in their windows to encourage others. Here are Spellzone we’ve been working hard to help our community stay in touch too – click here to learn more about some of the things we’ve been doing. This month, we’ve decided to put communication right at the heart of our 10 Words post. Here are ten different ways of saying talk: Chat – to talk socially in an ...
For this month's 10 Words feature, we’ve chosen the word very. We use the word very to emphasise the description that follows it. Don’t forget that the alternate words we share in these articles aren’t always direct swaps. Make sure you read the example sentences to see each word used in context. You can find links to previous 10 Words articles at the bottom of the page. Here are 10 alternatives for very: 1) Abundantly - in an abundant manner, with great quantity She made it abundantly clear that she hated his taste in music. 2) Disti...
Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you love Valentine's Day or think it's a complete waste of time, there's no denying that notions of love and heartbreak have inspired writers and artists for thousands of years. There are countless expressions associated with love in the English language: ‘...from the bottom of my heart’, ‘I have a crush on you’, ‘head over heels’, and even ‘broken heart’. So what other word could we choose for our 10 Words feature but love? From romantic love, to familial love, to platonic love; we’ve got the word for you. 1. Admire – to feel admiration for, to regard with warmth and res...
Today we have a Christmas twist to our 10 Words feature. For those of you who are unfamiliar with our blog, every few weeks we choose a word and share 10 other words you could use in its place. Today, instead of choosing a word, we have put together a list of different Christmas greetings. Some of these are spoken, while others you are more likely to encounter written down. We’ve also included some foreign-language Christmas greetings that are widely used by English speakers. Whether you’re learning English or just looking to expand your vocabulary, this post will give you some variety when it comes to sharing the Christmas spirit. Merr...
To celebrate World Hello Day, we chose hello for this month’s 10 Words blog post. What is World Hello Day? World Hello Day was started in response to the 1983 conflict between Egypt and Israel with the intention of promoting and encouraging communication as a vital tool for keeping peace. Over the years, World Hello Day has been observed in 180 different countries. How can I take part in World Hello Day? The goal of World Hello Day is for each participant to greet ten people over the course of the day. This can be in person, over the phone, or via written communication. Some people like to get in touch with world leaders using social media. To help...
For this week’s 10 Words feature, we’ve chosen the word angry. Don’t forget that the alternate words we share in these articles aren’t always direct swaps. Make sure you read the example sentences to see each word used in context. You can find links to previous 10 Words articles at the bottom of the page. Here are 10 alternatives for angry: 1. Cross – annoyed and irritable The girl had forgotten her homework and was afraid the teacher would be cross with her. 2. Enraged – marked by extreme anger She felt enraged by the state of current...
Back at school and looking for words to describe your rejuvenated approach to your studies? This is the article for you! Last month we launched a new 10 Words blog feature designed to help you expand your vocabulary. In each article we choose a word and give you ten other words that you might be able to use in its place. Our first article of the month looked at the word happy and this week our chosen word is hardworking. Here are ten alternate words and some example sentences: 1. Assiduous – marked by care and persistent effort She was assiduous in her search for primary sources while writing her history essay. 2.&n...
Welcome to our new 10 Words blog feature designed to help you expand your vocabulary. In each article we’ll choose a word and give you 10 other words that you might be able to use in its place. To kick off the series, we’ve chosen the word happy. Here are 10 words you could use instead and some example sentences: 1) Blissful – experiencing perfect happiness At the resort, she felt blissful and carefree. 2) Cheerful – visibly happy or optimistic, promoting happiness through its nature, appearance, or good spirits The roaring fire made it a cheerful space. He was extremely cheerfu...
A few weeks ago we shared Five Ideas to Keep You Writing Over the Summer Holidays. Writing is an excellent way to practise your spelling, but what do you do when inspiration doesn’t strike? Here are five ideas to help you get those creative juices flowing: Automatic writing A method the writers across the world swear by, this exercise is bound to help you generate ideas. Set your timer for five minutes and start writing – don’t let your pen (or fingers if you’re typing) stop moving until your alarm goes off. Write whatever comes into your head, even if it doesn’t make sense. If you’d prefer, you can change the period of time you’re writing f...
One of the best ways to improve your spelling is by making writing a part of your daily routine, but while you’re not at school, university, or work, chances are you won’t have as many opportunities to practise. Whether you’re going away for just a few days or you have the whole summer off, here are five ideas to make sure you keep writing: Look out for opportunities to practise in your established routine From texting, to commenting on social media posts, to writing shopping lists, it’s possible that your day is already filled with writing that you don’t even realise you’re doing. Pay attention to these moments and commit to using full words (...
A few weeks ago, we shared five tips to help you improve your writing and one of the pieces of advice we gave was to always begin with a plan. This week we’re delving into the art of planning. Here are our top tips: Look Closely at Your Brief or Question Before you start planning, take a moment to examine your brief or essay question. Copy the brief out by hand and highlight any key words. Pay attention to both the subject you are being asked to write about and how you are being asked to write about it. For example, you may be asked to summarise a subject, to compare one subject to another subject, to evaluate the positive and negative aspects of a subject, etc. It is surp...
Expose yourself to as many new words as possible If you want to expand your vocabulary, it is important to actively expose yourself to unfamiliar words. One way of doing this is by reading as much as possible. As long as you focus on building your vocabulary, you don’t necessarily have to read books. From food packets, to road signs, to Buzzfeed, we each read a huge variety of words as we go about our day to day lives. We also expose ourselves to words by watching television and online videos, by listening to the radio or podcasts, and in conversations. Try to be conscious of the information you are processing. When you come across a new word, see if you can work out its mea...
1) Why are you writing and who are you writing for? Before you start writing, it is important to ask yourself these two questions and adapt your writing style accordingly. This is because the purpose and intended audience of an academic essay is, for example, is very different to that of a blog post. Similarly, the tone and style of a letter of complaint is very different to that of a letter to a friend, and both of these are different to the tone and style of an email or text message. If you are writing for university coursework or for a publication, make sure you are aware of any style guides you should follow. The whereabouts of your audience may also affect how you choose to write...
What is a redundant expression? A redundant expression, or tautology, is an expression in which a word or group of words is unnecessary because it repeats something that has already been expressed by another word. For example: This envelope contains important documents inside. While at first it might seem like there is nothing wrong with this sentence, if you take a closer look, you’ll notice that the word inside is redundant. This is because the word contains already indicates that the envelope holds documents within it. Why is it important to be aware of redundant expressions when writing? If your writing contains redundant expressions, a reader might think th...
American vs. British English
Common Mistakes
Commonly Confused Words
English Idioms Explained
English Literature
Exams & Tests
Grammar & Punctuation
Mindful Spelling
Spelling at School
Spelling Games
Spelling Homework
Spelling Tips
Spellzone Tips & Tools
Supporting Adult Learners
Supporting Dyslexic Learners
Supporting EAL Learners
Word Origins & Stories
Writing & Vocabulary
"Thank goodness for Spellzone during this remote learning phase. The site is easy for students to navigate independently and they're really enjoying the activities and spelling games. You get an awful lot for your money with Spellzone. Really reassuring is the very prompt response with helpdesk queries. I've very rarely needed the helpdesk, but when I have, the issue has been addressed and sorted within a very short time."
Sarah Taggart, Oasis Academy Lord's HillConnect with us at: 
