How to spell quarter
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
quarter
Q-U-A-R-T-E-R
The part to watch: quar + ter, with an r you hardly hear. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Quarter sounds like "kwor-ter", and the first r is easy to leave out. After q always comes u.
Quarter 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 quarter
- Wrong: quaterRight: quarter
- Wrong: qaurterRight: quarter
A way to remember it
Quar + ter: both halves have an r. Say "kwar-ter" in your spelling voice so you hear the first one.
Quarter in syllables
quar · ter
Quarter has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
I ate a quarter of the pizza.
Quarter on the statutory list
Quarter 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 quarter, 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 quarter.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell quarterly?
Quarterly is quarter + ly, keeping both r letters. It means four times a year.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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