How to spell mention
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
mention
M-E-N-T-I-O-N
The part to watch: it ends -tion. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
The "shun" ending is spelt -tion, the most common way to spell that sound.
Mention is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a -tion, -cial or -cient ending. These words end in -tion, -cial or -cient, where ti or ci usually says "sh": men-tion, spe-cial, an-cient. After an s, as in question, -tion says "chun" instead, but the letters stay the same.
Common mistakes with mention
- Wrong: mensionRight: mention
- Wrong: menshunRight: mention
A way to remember it
Mention ends like attention: pay attention when someone mentions your name.
Mention in syllables
men · tion
Mention has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Did the teacher mention the school trip?
Mention on the statutory list
Mention 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 mention, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a -tion, -cial or -cient ending
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as mention.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell mentioned?
Mentioned is mention + ed. The n does not double, because the beat falls on "men", not on "tion".
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