Word helper: mixed-up words, tricky words and word parts

How to use it

1. On 1. Mixed-up words, type in the search box to find a set, such as there, their and they're. Read what each word means, hear the example sentence, and try the memory hint. Choose Save word to add a word to your own list.
2. On 2. My tricky words, add words you want to get right, with a hint of your own if you like. Choose Practice to look at a word, say it, cover it, write it from memory, and check it. Tick Easier now when a word feels easier. You can copy the list, download it, or print it as flashcards.
3. On 3. Split a word, type a word and tap a letter to put a break after it. The parts show as boxes, and the voice can say each part and then the whole word. You can save the split as a hint.

Good to know

• This tool gives you a place to look things up and to practice words you choose. It does not teach spelling by itself, it does not check your writing, and it does not diagnose anything. If spelling or reading feels very hard, a teacher or a reading specialist can help.
• The meanings in Mixed-up words are the usual, everyday meanings. Many words have other, rarer meanings too, so check a dictionary for those. The list uses US spelling and US usage.
• The memory hints are tricks about the letters in the words, written for this tool. They are not spelling rules. A hint that does not help you is fine to skip, and you can write your own hint for any word in your list.
• Practice follows a routine that school and council guides describe with a few different names and steps, such as look, say, cover, write, check. The guides we read gave no research on how well it works, so this tool does not promise it will improve your spelling. You decide when a word feels easier. There are no scores or streaks.
• When you check a word, capital letters count, because some words, such as names, need them. If something is different, the tool marks the letters and also describes the difference in words, so it does not depend on color. It counts two letters that swap places as one change.
• Your browser may underline spelling mistakes and suggest spellings while you type in the practice box. That comes from the browser, not from this tool. You can turn it off in your browser settings.
• In Split a word, you choose where the breaks go. The tool does not know syllable rules and does not claim your split is right or wrong. The voice reads each part as if it were a word, so a part can sound odd.
• Your list is saved in this browser on this device only. It holds up to 300 words. Clearing the site data in your browser removes it, so use Copy list or Download to keep a spare copy.
• Read aloud uses the voice and speed set in the Listen controls on this page. How it sounds depends on the voices on your device. Many of the words in a set sound the same, so listening alone will not tell them apart.

Where this comes from

• Meanings were compared with this community college writing resource, which covers most of the sets: St. Louis Community College: commonly confused words
• A textbook chapter on common spelling problems, used to check accept and except, advice and advise, affect and effect, cite, site and sight, principal and principle, and others: Open Technical Communication, section 5.09 Common Spelling Problems, on LibreTexts
• Short meanings with examples for wear, wait and weight, sea and see, hour, flour and flower, dear and deer, and hair and hare: Common Ground International: English homophones
• Usage notes for allowed and aloud, buy and by, and won and one: Scholastic Parents: commonly confused homophones
• We're, were, where and wear: LanguageTool: where, wear, were and we're
• Bye, by and buy: Writing Explained: bye versus by
• Of and off: ProWritingAid: of versus off
• Wood and would: Grammarist: wood versus would
• Tail and tale: Grammarly: tail versus tale
• Why could of is a mistake for could have, and why the same goes for would of and should of: Paul Brians, Common Errors in English Usage and More: could of, should of, would of
• A second explanation of could have and could of: Writing Explained: could of or could have
• A local council guide for parents that describes a close version of the practice routine (look, cover, write, check, look). It gives no research on how well the routine works: Surrey County Council: helping your child with spelling
• A spelling site that describes look, say, cover, write, check. It also gives no research on how well the routine works: How To Spell: the look, say, cover, write, check method
• The dyslexia guide
• The dysgraphia guide
• The developmental language disorder guide

More tools

General support only. These tools are not medical, legal or diagnostic advice, and they do not replace professional help. If you are in crisis, go to Crisis help.