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How to spell hindrance

A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.

The answer

hindrance

H-I-N-D-R-A-N-C-E

The part to watch: hinder drops its e (hind-rance). The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.

The tricky part

Hindrance comes from hinder, but the e of hinder is dropped. It ends -ance.

Hindrance is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a suffix to watch. A suffix is an ending such as -ment, -tion or -ed. Sometimes the root word changes when you add it: a letter is dropped, doubled or swapped.

Common mistakes with hindrance

  • Wrong: hinderanceRight: hindrance
  • Wrong: hindrenceRight: hindrance

A way to remember it

A hindrance hinders you, and hinder loses its e: hindr + ance.

Hindrance in syllables

hin · drance

Hindrance has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.

In a sentence

The heavy bag was a hindrance on the long walk.

Hindrance on the statutory list

Hindrance is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.

See all the Year 5 and 6 words

Test yourself

A short spelling test that starts with hindrance, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.

More words with a suffix to watch

These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as hindrance.

More words

Questions parents ask

How do you spell hinder?

Hinder ends -er: h-i-n-d-e-r. Hindered and hindering keep the e; only hindrance drops it.

Spelling is one part of the picture

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