How to spell earth
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
earth
E-A-R-T-H
The part to watch: ear + th, with ear saying "ur". The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Earth sounds like "urth", but it is spelt with ear. It uses the same letters as early and heard.
Earth is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with the letters ear. The letters ear do not always say "ear". In early, earth, heard and learn they say "ur", and in heart they say "ar".
Common mistakes with earth
- Wrong: erthRight: earth
- Wrong: urthRight: earth
A way to remember it
Earth has "ear" and "art" inside it: e-ar-th. Say "ear, th".
Earth in syllables
earth
Earth has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
Worms live in the earth under our feet.
Earth on the statutory list
Earth 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 earth, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the letters ear
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as earth.
More words
Questions parents ask
Does Earth need a capital letter?
When you mean the planet, it is often written with a capital, like Mars: "the Earth goes round the Sun". When you mean soil, it never is: "worms in the earth".
Spelling is one part of the picture
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