English Quiz - Spelling: w and wh (Questions)

Wh- and w- words cause confusion in English when it comes to their spelling. Here's a useful tip: if it's a question word beginning with 'w-', then it's spelt with 'wh-'. For example: 'what?', 'where?'.

The trouble is that for words beginning with wh, the h isn't pronounced. Where and wear sound exactly the same. Not only do some people get the spelling wrong - they also get the word completely wrong. It's fairly common to see whether and weather mixed up! Here's a little phrase to help you remember what both mean.

Weather the storm; whether you want to or not.

As you can see, the two words are in alphabetical order ~ weather before whether. If you memorise this little phrase, it might help if you are unsure. Try this 11-plus quiz and see how well you do with 'wh-' and 'w-' spelling. By the way: question words are followed by a '?' and the meanings of the other words are given in the brackets.

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1.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	when?
[ ]	why?
[ ]	whitch (somebody with magic powers)
[ ]	what?

2.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whiskey (an alcoholic drink)
[ ]	whack (to hit with a loud sharp blow)
[ ]	weat (grass with edible grain)
[ ]	werewolf (somebody who can change into a wolf)

3.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whose?
[ ]	weel (a rotating round part)
[ ]	who?
[ ]	whom?

4.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	warf (a docking place for ships)
[ ]	whetstone (a stone used for sharpening tools and weapons)
[ ]	weather (the condition of the atmosphere)
[ ]	whist (a card game)

5.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	wasp (an insect)
[ ]	warp (to get twisted)
[ ]	whiff (slight or brief smell)
[ ]	wheak (not strong or fit)

6.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whisper (to speak very quietly)
[ ]	wish (desire)
[ ]	were (past tense of verb 'be')
[ ]	whealth (a great amount of money)

7.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	which?
[ ]	why?
[ ]	when?
[ ]	wayer?

8.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	when?
[ ]	where?
[ ]	which?
[ ]	whoose?

9.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whim (a sudden thought or idea)
[ ]	wale (a big marine mammal)
[ ]	whine (to make a high-pitched sorrowful sound)
[ ]	wine (an alcoholic drink made from grapes)

10.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whip (to lash somebody or something)
[ ]	welk (a marine mollusc: a sea creature)
[ ]	wear (to clothe)
[ ]	weave (to make cloth)

English Quiz - Spelling: w and wh (Answers)

1.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	when?
[ ]	why?
[x]	whitch (somebody with magic powers)
[ ]	what?

The spelling should be 'witch'

2.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whiskey (an alcoholic drink)
[ ]	whack (to hit with a loud sharp blow)
[x]	weat (grass with edible grain)
[ ]	werewolf (somebody who can change into a wolf)

The spelling should be 'wheat'

3.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whose?
[x]	weel (a rotating round part)
[ ]	who?
[ ]	whom?

The spelling should be 'wheel'

4.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[x]	warf (a docking place for ships)
[ ]	whetstone (a stone used for sharpening tools and weapons)
[ ]	weather (the condition of the atmosphere)
[ ]	whist (a card game)

The spelling should be 'wharf'

5.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	wasp (an insect)
[ ]	warp (to get twisted)
[ ]	whiff (slight or brief smell)
[x]	wheak (not strong or fit)

The spelling should be 'weak'

6.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whisper (to speak very quietly)
[ ]	wish (desire)
[ ]	were (past tense of verb 'be')
[x]	whealth (a great amount of money)

The spelling should be 'wealth'

7.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	which?
[ ]	why?
[ ]	when?
[x]	wayer?

The spelling should be 'where'

8.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	when?
[ ]	where?
[ ]	which?
[x]	whoose?

The spelling should be 'whose'

9.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whim (a sudden thought or idea)
[x]	wale (a big marine mammal)
[ ]	whine (to make a high-pitched sorrowful sound)
[ ]	wine (an alcoholic drink made from grapes)

The spelling should be 'whale'

10.

Which one of the following words has been spelt wrongly?

[ ]	whip (to lash somebody or something)
[x]	welk (a marine mollusc: a sea creature)
[ ]	wear (to clothe)
[ ]	weave (to make cloth)

The spelling should be 'whelk'