How to spell sentence
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
sentence
S-E-N-T-E-N-C-E
The part to watch: sen + tence, with three e letters and no a. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
The end of sentence sounds like "unce", but it is spelt -ence. The s sound at the end is a c.
Sentence is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with an -ant, -ance, -ent or -ence ending. The endings -ant and -ent sound almost the same, and so do -ance and -ence. The only reliable way is to learn which one each word takes.
Common mistakes with sentence
- Wrong: sentanceRight: sentence
- Wrong: sentenseRight: sentence
A way to remember it
Every sentence has three e letters: s-E-nt-E-nc-E, and no a.
Sentence in syllables
sen · tence
Sentence has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Start every sentence with a capital letter.
Sentence on the statutory list
Sentence 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 sentence, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with an -ant, -ance, -ent or -ence ending
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as sentence.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it sentence or sentance?
Sentence. It ends -ence, like silence and science, not -ance.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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