Understanding words, sounds, and how spelling helps you become a better reader and writer
Have you ever seen words like these — Speling, Spieling, Spelling, Spealing — and felt confused? They look so alike! But only one is correct: Spelling.
Why is spelling important?
Good spelling helps you focus on your ideas when writing. You don’t have to stop and think about every word. It also helps with reading — the better you spell, the better you can read.
Is English spelling too hard to learn?
English might seem tricky, but researchers found that:
-
About 50% of English words follow regular patterns.
-
Another 34% are mostly regular — they only have one sound that’s a bit tricky.
That means a lot of English spelling can be learned with the right practice!
What do you need to be a good speller?
To be good at spelling, you need to:
- Hear the sounds in words clearly.
- Break words into parts – like sounds (called phonemes), syllables, and word chunks.
- Know the rules – like when to use ph or f, or if you should double a letter when adding -ing.
Some kids struggle with spelling because of hearing problems when they were younger. If you can’t hear sounds clearly, it’s harder to tell them apart when spelling.
What helps with spelling?
You need to learn:
-
Sound-letter links (this is called the alphabetic principle)
-
Syllable patterns and meaningful word parts (this is called morphology)
-
Where words come from (this is called etymology)
Just trying to look and remember words doesn’t really work. Spelling is not about memorizing how words look — it’s about understanding the sounds and how letters go together.
Why is spelling important for school and life?
If spelling is hard for you:
-
You might write fewer words.
-
You might only use words you can spell (even if you want to use better ones).
-
People may judge you unfairly at school or at work.
-
It can make reading harder too — because reading and spelling both need strong language skills.
What if spelling is still hard?
If you or your child struggles with spelling — especially if there’s a history of ear infections or hearing problems — a program like Fast ForWord might help. It trains the brain to hear sounds more clearly, which can improve both reading and spelling.
Explore the Neuron Learning Reading and Spelling Programme today
Support your child’s spelling and reading skills
Contact us at