How to spell question
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
question
Q-U-E-S-T-I-O-N
The part to watch: qu at the start, -tion at the end. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Question starts with qu, which says "kw". After an s, the -tion ending says "chun" rather than "shun".
Question 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 question
- Wrong: qestionRight: question
- Wrong: questoinRight: question
A way to remember it
A question is a quest for an answer: quest + ion.
Question in syllables
ques · tion
Question has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Ask a question if you are stuck.
Question on the statutory list
Question 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 question, 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 question.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell questionnaire?
Questionnaire is question with -naire added, so it has a double n: q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n-n-a-i-r-e.
Spelling is one part of the picture
The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.