How to spell interest
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
interest
I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T
The part to watch: inter + est, with an e you hardly hear. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Quick speech turns interest into "in-trest", hiding the e after the t.
Interest is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a letter you hardly hear. When we speak quickly, a letter or a whole beat gets swallowed. Say the word slowly, the way it is spelt, so every letter has a sound.
Common mistakes with interest
- Wrong: intrestRight: interest
- Wrong: intristRight: interest
A way to remember it
Say it in your spelling voice: in, ter, est.
Interest in syllables
in · ter · est
Interest has 3 syllables. Say each one as you write it. Often said "in-trest". Saying all three beats keeps the middle e.
In a sentence
Dinosaurs are a big interest of mine.
Interest on the statutory list
Interest 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 interest, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a letter you hardly hear
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as interest.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell interesting?
Interesting is interest + ing, with nothing changed. Interested is interest + ed.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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