Help & FAQ
How the site works, in plain terms.
Getting started
- Try the demo. Ten free questions, no account needed. Start the demo.
- Create an account. Give your name and email. There is no password: each time you sign in we email you a one-time link.
- Wait for approval. The site is in a private beta, so new accounts are approved by hand. You will get an email when yours is ready.
- Pick a quiz from your dashboard and begin.
Quizzes
The dashboard has two modes, chosen with the switch at the top. The site remembers your choice.
- Vocabulary
- A question and three possible answers, A, B and C. Pick the one you think is right. After answering, a short explanatory note may appear (see turning notes off).
- Spelling
- You type the spelling of a word. Two styles:
- Pronunciation: you see how the word sounds, written out, and spell it.
- Listen: you hear the word spoken and spell it. Words without recorded audio are not offered here.
The picker
Each row on the dashboard is a difficulty level, from 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest). Mixed draws from all five. Words You've Missed only uses words you have got wrong before.
In each row, the number is how many words are available. Click it to choose more precisely, for example only words you have never seen. 25 starts a quiz of 25 questions with a score at the end. ∞ is endless: questions keep coming until you press End quiz. A dash means nothing is available in that row yet.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Where | Key | Does |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary question | A B C | Choose that answer |
| Feedback screen | Enter | Next question |
| Spelling question (Listen) | Esc | Replay the word, even while typing |
| Study card | Space or → | Next word |
| Study card | ← | Previous word |
| Study card (spelling) | R | Replay the audio |
Letter shortcuts are ignored while your cursor is in a text box, so they never interfere with typing an answer.
Study mode
Study shows you words and their details without testing you: spelling, pronunciation, meaning, origin and an example where available. Open it from Study in the menu, choose a mode and a set of words, and keep going until you press Finish studying. Words come in a shuffled order and do not repeat until you have seen them all. Use Previous to step back through recent cards.
Studying never changes your quiz results, but words you have studied can be used as a filter when choosing a quiz.
Progress, stats and badges
- Dashboard footer: answers so far, overall accuracy, your current streak, and details of your last session.
- Stats: month-by-month activity, accuracy by difficulty and category, your most-missed words and common misspellings.
- Streak: consecutive days (counted in UTC) on which you answered quiz questions or studied cards.
- Badges: awarded automatically for milestones such as words learned, correct answers, streaks and time as a member. They are permanent and listed on your Stats page.
Choosing words by your history
The number in the picker leads to a page where you can narrow the words to: any; ones you have not seen; missed recently; ever missed; still getting wrong (your latest answer was wrong); not seen in a while; or ones you have studied.
Your account
- Signing in: enter your email on the log in page and open the link we send. It works once and expires after 15 minutes.
- One device at a time: signing in on a new device signs you out of the old one. You stay signed in on a device for up to 30 days of inactivity, or until you log out. For your security you are also asked to sign in again with a fresh link at least every 90 days.
- Settings: dark mode, explanatory notes, pausing on a feedback screen, and how pronunciation is shown. Open Settings once signed in.
Frequently asked questions
I did not get my sign-in email.
Allow a few minutes, then check your spam or junk folder. Make sure you typed the address you registered with. You can request a new link at any time.
My sign-in link says it is invalid or expired.
Links work once and last 15 minutes. Request a fresh one from the log in page. Some email programs open links in the background to scan them, which can use the link up; if that keeps happening, copy the link into your browser instead of clicking it.
I signed in but it says my account is waiting for approval.
During the private beta every new account is approved by hand. You will be emailed when yours is ready, and the waiting page has a Check again button.
I was signed out unexpectedly.
Most likely you signed in on another device or browser, which ends the previous session. Only one device can be signed in at a time.
How do I turn the explanatory notes off for faster play?
In Settings, untick Show explanatory notes after answering. You can also untick Pause on a separate screen to show feedback so the result and the next question appear together.
Why are some words missing from Listen spelling?
Listen needs a recording of the word. Words without audio are left out of that style but still appear in Pronunciation spelling.
The pronunciation guide looks odd. What is it?
It is a simple respelling, with capitals marking the stressed syllable, for example kam-pLEET for complete. Settings can switch to dictionary notation or show both.
I think a question, spelling or recording is wrong.
Use Flag this word for quality review under the question, with an optional note. Flags go to the people who maintain the word list.
Does a quiz I abandon still count?
Answers you have already given are recorded, so they still count towards your stats. An unfinished 25-question quiz simply has no final score.
Is it free?
The site is in a private beta with no charge. The demo is open to everyone; full access requires an approved account.
Something is broken or I have a suggestion.
Flag the word if it concerns a specific question. For anything else, contact whoever invited you to the beta.