How to spell describe
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
describe
D-E-S-C-R-I-B-E
The part to watch: it starts de-, not dis-. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
People often hear "diss-cribe" and write dis at the start. It is de + scribe, with a silent e at the end.
Describe is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a silent e at the end. Each of these words ends in an e you do not hear. Remember to write it, and remember it drops before -ing or -ed: complete, completing, completed.
Common mistakes with describe
- Wrong: discribeRight: describe
- Wrong: describRight: describe
A way to remember it
A scribe was someone who wrote things down. To describe something, you write about it: de + scribe.
Describe in syllables
de · scribe
Describe has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Can you describe the monster in your story?
Describe on the statutory list
Describe is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with describe, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a silent e at the end
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as describe.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell description?
Description is the noun from describe. The b changes to p: d-e-s-c-r-i-p-t-i-o-n.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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