How to spell experience
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
experience
E-X-P-E-R-I-E-N-C-E
The part to watch: exper + ience, with four e letters and no a. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
The ending sounds like "unce", but it is spelt -ence. The middle is per, then i.
Experience is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with an -ant, -ance, -ent or -ence ending. The endings -ant and -ent sound almost the same, and so do -ance and -ence. The only reliable way is to learn which one each word takes.
Common mistakes with experience
- Wrong: experianceRight: experience
- Wrong: expirienceRight: experience
A way to remember it
Every experience ends with an e: experience has four e letters, and no a at all.
Experience in syllables
ex · pe · ri · ence
Experience has 4 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Visiting the zoo was a great experience.
Experience on the statutory list
Experience 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 experience, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with an -ant, -ance, -ent or -ence ending
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as experience.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell experienced?
Experienced is experience + d. Inexperienced adds in to the front.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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