How to spell variety
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
variety
V-A-R-I-E-T-Y
The part to watch: vari + ety, so i and then e. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Variety has four beats: va, ri, e, ty. People often skip the e or write "variaty".
Variety is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 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 variety
- Wrong: varityRight: variety
- Wrong: variatyRight: variety
A way to remember it
Variety is related to vary. Where vary has a y, variety has i, then ety.
Variety in syllables
va · ri · e · ty
Variety has 4 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
The shop sells a variety of sweets.
Variety on the statutory list
Variety is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with variety, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a letter you hardly hear
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as variety.
More words
Questions parents ask
What is the plural of variety?
Varieties. The y changes to i before -es.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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