KS3 spelling words beginning at bu

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with bu... (Questions)

Words beginning bu- can be surprisingly tricky. This KS3 spelling quiz helps you spot patterns, avoid common mistakes and choose the correct spelling in real sentences.

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Fascinating Fact:

Busiest and busiest day keep the u even though the sound changes. Start from busy, then add -est to form busiest without dropping letters.

In KS3 English Spelling, you work with many words beginning bu-, such as bundle, building and bulletin. Noticing how prefixes, root words and endings join together helps you remember accurate spellings and use them confidently in your own writing.

Key Terms

Prefix: A group of letters added to the start of a word, like bu- in bucket or burden, which can slightly change the meaning.
Suffix: A group of letters added to the end of a word, such as -est in busiest, which can change its form or grammar role.
Syllable: A beat or sound unit in a word, for example busi-est has two syllables that can help with chunking the spelling.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How can I improve my spelling of KS3 words beginning bu-?

Write a short list of bu- words, say each one out loud, then copy them into sentences. Repeat this over several days until you can spell them from memory.

Why do some bu- words sound different from how they look?

English spellings often keep older patterns from history. In some bu- words, like busy, the letters stay the same even when the vowel sound changes slightly when you speak.

What strategies help me remember tricky bu- spellings?

Break the word into syllables, highlight the unusual letters, make a simple rhyme or picture in your mind, and keep revisiting the word in quick spelling practices.

Try These Related Quizzes

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Placed in a grave

[ ]	berryed
[ ]	burried
[ ]	berried
[ ]	buried

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A commercial or industrial enterprise

[ ]	businese
[ ]	business
[ ]	busines
[ ]	busyness

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A sequence of 8 bits

[ ]	bight
[ ]	beit
[ ]	byte
[ ]	bite

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Two or more wires used for electrical power or data circuits

[ ]	cable
[ ]	kabul
[ ]	caible
[ ]	caybel

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To determine the solution to something by a mathematical process

[ ]	calcalate
[ ]	calculate
[ ]	calqulate
[ ]	calkulate

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A major class of foods that includes sugars and starches

[ ]	carbohydrate
[ ]	carbohydraite
[ ]	carbohidrate
[ ]	carbohyrait

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A vessel which contains the ink or toner for a computer printer

[ ]	carteridge
[ ]	cartridg
[ ]	cartridge
[ ]	cartredge

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A type of fortified structure usually built during the Middle Ages

[ ]	castel
[ ]	cassle
[ ]	castule
[ ]	castle

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A complete list of items. Usually alphabetical

[ ]	catalog
[ ]	catalogue
[ ]	caterloge
[ ]	caterlogue

10.

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
The principal Christian church building of a bishop's diocese

[ ]	cathedrul
[ ]	cathederal
[ ]	catheedral
[ ]	cathedral

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Spelling

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with bu... (Answers)

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Placed in a grave

[ ]	berryed
[ ]	burried
[ ]	berried
[x]	buried

In the past tense, "bury" becomes "buried"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A commercial or industrial enterprise

[ ]	businese
[x]	business
[ ]	busines
[ ]	busyness

Remember that the y of "busy" is replaced with an i in "business"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A sequence of 8 bits

[ ]	bight
[ ]	beit
[x]	byte
[ ]	bite

Remember that it is "byte", not "bite"!

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Two or more wires used for electrical power or data circuits

[x]	cable
[ ]	kabul
[ ]	caible
[ ]	caybel

This spelling is also used for "cable car"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
To determine the solution to something by a mathematical process

[ ]	calcalate
[x]	calculate
[ ]	calqulate
[ ]	calkulate

If you can spell "calculate", you'll have no trouble with the related word, "calculation"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A major class of foods that includes sugars and starches

[x]	carbohydrate
[ ]	carbohydraite
[ ]	carbohidrate
[ ]	carbohyrait

It's easy to remember the elements of this word: carbo-, like "carbon", and "hydrate"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A vessel which contains the ink or toner for a computer printer

[ ]	carteridge
[ ]	cartridg
[x]	cartridge
[ ]	cartredge

It might help to remember this word as cart + ridge

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A type of fortified structure usually built during the Middle Ages

[ ]	castel
[ ]	cassle
[ ]	castule
[x]	castle

Castle is another word with the -le ending