BEHIND THE WORDS
Small collection.
Clear sources.
Good teaching starts with knowing where the information comes from.
What is in this collection?
The public collection contains 73 original, curated entries. Definitions and sentences are written for this project. “Classroom selection” is an editorial choice, not a measured frequency ranking. Roots show related word forms; they are not a complete etymological history. Syllable counts describe common pronunciations and can vary. All 73 starter counts were checked against CMUdict; germination was corrected to four syllables. CMU dictionary licence.
Teaching guidance
The spelling patterns are based on the Department for Education’s spelling appendix. The site has no named teacher reviewer yet. Please check materials before using them in a lesson.
Word-list data
The pages for words ending in Q, J and I use the ENABLE2K word list (public domain; compiled by Alan Beale, distributed by Mendel Cooper) to count words and to check that each listed word appears in it. Counts refer to ENABLE2K only, not to every dictionary or word game. Meanings and origins on those pages are written for this site and were checked against Merriam-Webster on 4 November 2026; each entry shows its source. WordNet is not yet used. Other imported words stay unpublished until they are selected for teaching use.
Official Scrabble dictionaries and Wiktionary text are not used. Inclusion does not imply validity in a word game.
Editorial approach and corrections
Every visible word is explicitly selected in the project’s teaching data. A curated allowlist keeps imported adult or offensive vocabulary out of classroom lists. British and American variants are shown separately. No automated filter can guarantee suitability for every age or setting.
Spotted a mistake or a missing word? See contact and corrections. The site has no forms and does not collect personal information.
Privacy and indexing
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