Embarrassed by your spelling, need to improve it for a better job, or had a terrible experience at school? You're not alone.
How to Spell is here to help you learn, improve, or teach spelling with free lessons and exercises.
It’s never too late to learn to spell well and write confidently.
Do you think spelling is stupid and weird? The good news is there are rules, patterns and reasons why words are spelled the way they are. And knowing these will stop you getting frustrated with spelling.
Learning even just a few spelling rules, letter patterns, history of spelling, and the Five Foundation Blocks of Spelling will give you confidence in your spelling so you’ll never feel scared, stupid and inferior ever again.
When you start to improve your spelling, you’ll start to love it and writing (which is the aim of this website).
For over 11 years, How to Spell has helped thousands of adults learn and improve spelling.
How to Spell is here to help you learn and improve spelling so you can:
Boost your job prospects, work and training.
Express yourself in writing without it taking hours or days.
Help your kids with their spelling and homework, and even answer those awkward spelling questions!
Remember, learning isn’t always easy. It should be a bit hard because that means you’re learning something.
Hi, I’m Joanne from howtospell.co.uk. I struggled with spelling and grammar too. When I started learning all about spelling and the amazing things about it, I knew I wanted to teach it. No one seemed to be teaching adults, teachers and kids how spelling worked.
I’ve been teaching spelling, literacy and English for over 25 years. Over 11 years ago, I made the How to Spell website to help even more people. Check out my story here.
Testimonials (Click here for Your Spelling Stories)
“Hi Joanne, thank you for the emails, they really help keep me on track. (click here to Subscribe for free email lessons). I do a little everyday and have purchased your Spelling Rules Workbook, which is great. I am slowly but surely changing my deep set belief of “I can’t spell” to “my spelling is improving all the time”. I am so grateful for your emails website and book. Many thanks.” Beccy, UK
BBC Learning English have named Howtospell.co.uk the number 1 site for spelling: “We often get asked questions about spelling and How to Spell.co.uk is a great site and videos…and fantastic games and quizzes.”
“Thank you for all your emails. I practise every day. I’ve just completed the GCSE English language course with a much improved grade. Your spelling course has developed my knowledge, skills and confidence with the English language.” Nigel H. UK (adult learner)
“I am so glad I found your site. I have been struggling all my life (I am 57). I’m a maternity support worker. We need to write in mums notes I have always shied away from writing in the notes because of my spelling and my handwriting. I have noticed my handwriting has improved and my spelling. I just needed some help with my spelling and there you are. Thank you so much. I will get there in the end.” Annette
“Hi Joanne...Just wanted to say thank you for your blog. I stumbled across it the other day while searching for spelling resources for my adult learners, and I have found it so useful. Will definitely be rooting through your archives to incorporate your methods and tricks into my lessons. I love the videos too. They make explanations so much easier. Thank you!” Suzanne
“We came across your spelling book and its an incredible resource! We are a small charity that works with vulnerable women of forcibly displaced backgrounds. We have been recommending it to our beneficiaries. Thank you for all your efforts and making your resources available for free to everyone. Kindest regards.” P. Community Horizons UK
Scroll down for more emails about people’s spelling journeys with How to Spell.
Click here to read the stories.
Practice Makes Progress
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Make Mistakes & Learn
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It's Never too Late to Learn New Things
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Practice Makes Progress 〰️ Make Mistakes & Learn 〰️ It's Never too Late to Learn New Things 〰️
Get free email spelling lessons.
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An effortless way to get weekly spelling lessons.
Are you ready to improve your spelling? Check out the in-depth books and courses below. Or go to the free lessons in the menu bar above.
How to Spell Books
Click on the books to find out more.
(Children’s spelling books come in British or American English versions.)
Spelling matters. You need to write emails, application forms, social media comments, course work, work reports, and helping your kids. You need to be able to spell correctly to get your meaning across so people can understand you.
Using a good dictionary and spellchecker can help but they won't help with silent letters or homophones (their, they’re, there; to, too) but knowing all about these can definitely help your spelling.
Spelling Courses
Click on the images to find out more.
The Spelling Rules: to improve spelling and confidence course is for both British and American English users, especially native speakers.
Learning spelling rules is one of the foundation blocks of learning to spell.
Knowing spelling rules can help you:
Use this knowledge to work out a spelling
Know why there are 'strange' letter patterns
Understand why some words are spelt the way they are
Know the few exceptions to the rule
Appreciate the difference between British and American spellings
Spelling Sounds and Patterns: to improve spelling, reading & pronunciation
Learning how speech sounds connect to spelling is one of the foundation blocks of learning to spell.
Learning to spell well isn't about using one method. It's a complex subject that needs various methods and approaches to learn it well.
You need to learn how sounds, letter patterns, history, structure of words, and rules are all connected and influence the spelling of words. Which is why this course is an important part of your spelling journey.
How to Punctuate Spelling: to improve spelling & writing will give you even more spelling knowledge and confidence to spell, write and get your meaning across.
This is ideal for both American & British English users who need to understand and master the tricky punctuation marks we put in spellings:
apostrophes (you're, I'm, Joanne's course)
hyphens (good-looking, a 3-year-old, sister-in-law).
abbreviations (CD/CDs, Dr./Dr, gym), when to use capital letters (I've, Samsung, Harry Potter),
writing dates (British vs. American dates — 9/11 vs. 11/9)
and much much more
How to Spell can help you improve your spelling so you can:
✓ Write confidently
✓ Improve your job prospects
✓ Be able to spell that perfect word that sums up how you feel - a word that will get you the job, an interview, your money back, your personality across, etc.
BEST SELLER
Spelling Rules Workbook
a step-by-step guide to the rules of English spelling
(suitable for British and American users)
Learning spelling rules is important because they:
1. Add to your spelling knowledge
2. Explain why we have “strange” letter patterns
3. Help you understand why spelling is the way it is
You’ll learn all the spelling rules, such as, drop the 'e', magic 'e' silent 'e', 1:1:1 doubling up rule, al, el, le rule, adding ly, y to i rules, -ck, -k, -ke rules, silent letter rules, prefix rules and much more.
Spelling Strategies & Secrets: The essential how to spell guide
Spelling Strategies & Secrets is packed full of useful tips to help you remember your spellings, and myth-busting facts to help you understand spelling.
It's ideal for anyway frustrated with spelling, who needs to know how to remember spellings, and why spelling is the way it is.
It's also perfect for homeschoolers, teachers, and tutors to help you explain those awkward questions about spelling. It provides a useful guide to spelling systems to help teach spelling, and tips to help dyslexics.
The Reasons Why English Spelling is so Weird and Wonderful - the history of spelling and English.
A great way to improve your spelling is knowing the history of spelling and why it is the way it is.
Knowing all this will make you less frustrated with spelling and make you start to understand spelling.
“Your book The Reasons Why English Spelling is so Weird and Wonderful is a real classic – it has taught me a lot – it should be in curriculums everywhere.” Adam
Want to know how to remember spellings?
Watch the Spelling Strategies video for free now.
You can learn these “tricks” in just 30 minutes and you'll never struggle to remember an important spelling again.
How to Spell the 20 Most Commonly Misspelled Words
Workbook & Journal
unnecessary, embarrassed, separately, definitely, argument, irrelevant, responsibilities, achievement, reference, particularly, occasional, committed, colleagues, liaison
These words are the most misspelled words made by native speakers according to the Oxford Dictionary, Oxford University Press. And the worse thing is they're often misspelled on job application forms.
Don't be the one who misspells these words! Learn to spell them in 30 days.
Suitable for British and American users.
What people are saying.
Some reviews, feedback, testimonials
Great site, Joanne! Have really enjoyed reading it. We obviously think along the same lines when it comes to teaching older students. Regards, Shireen (Spelling Essentials book by Shireen Shuster)
BBC Learning English have named Howtospell.co.uk the number 1 site for spelling: “We often get asked questions about spelling and How to Spell.co.uk is a great site and videos…and fantastic games and quizzes.”
I am so glad I found your site. I have been struggling all my life (I am 57). I just needed some help with my spelling and there you are. Thank you so much. I will get there in the end. Annette
Hi Joanne...Just wanted to say thank you for your blog. I stumbled across it the other day while searching for spelling resources for my adult learners, and I have found it so useful. Will definitely be rooting through your archives to incorporate your methods and tricks into my lessons. I love the videos too. They make explanations so much easier. Thank you! Suzanne
I'm starting to enjoy writing and spelling thanks to you, it means the world to me, to be able to do this. It's not just for me but to set an example for my little girl, I didn't have the opportunity when I was growing up so thanks one million. I still have a fair way to go but this is a start. N.B
I highly recommend this website. It's a no nonsense resource with clearly explained strategies for adults. I should also add Joanne, who is responsible for the site, takes an active role in encouraging participants. Even after a few days of using the strategies my spelling has measurably improved and I am starting to enjoy writing for the first time in my life. Matthew (scientist)
Thank you so much for your help, I am 26 and born in this country and my spelling is really bad it holds me back from a lot of things because it can be embarrassing. So I started teaching myself... Thanks again, S
Hi Joanne, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your site. I am a literacy instructor in Ontario, Canada. I have sent many of my adult learners to your site and I know they have benefited quite a lot. Your videos are highly informative and help to combat the stigma attached to poor spelling.
Most poor spellers I have worked with were never taught effective strategies for spelling when they were in school. They often feel they are just slow or stupid, which is rarely the case. It's exciting for them when they start learning difficult words, and their success encourages them to work even harder. Keep up the great work! Pamela Friedrich, Training and Learning Centre of Renfrew County
Dear Joanne
I've long wanted to write to you about your emails and courses. They're a big part of why my own spelling and writing has so much improved recently. I find them short and to the point but still well explained and easy to follow. So all I really have to say is a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your extraordinary help, and PLEASE continue doing them, their impact is far and wide. You can't even imagine what it means, being able to write without asking someone to help me is like giving someone another chance!!
Again, thank you so much for everything you do you're a true hero!
M, USA
For free email lessons click on the Subscribe link above.
How to Spell nominated best English Language Website by Macmillan Dictionary in 2014, 2013 & 2012. (They don’t these awards anymore.)
Want to know the pronunciation of a word in British or American?
Then go to Macmillan Dictionaries
