Privacy policy
Spell & Shine
Updated: 6 October 2026
Native iPhone and iPad app
Scope
This policy describes the native iPhone and iPad app, Spell & Shine. The separate website word tool has different browser speech and hosting behaviour, described in its website policy.
Words and audio
Vocabulary, definitions, spelling resources and fonts are bundled with the app. Typed words, speech transcripts and the current result are processed on the device. The app does not send these to the developer or an AI/API service. It does not write recordings, transcripts or a word history to storage. Current input and results can remain in memory until replaced or the app process ends.
First-use guides
The app stores two on-device flags to remember when you have dismissed the Spell and Shine guides. These contain no words or audio and are not sent to the developer.
Speech and permissions
Microphone and speech recognition permission are requested when you first use Spell's speech bar or Shine's microphone button. The app requires Apple's on-device British English speech recognition and does not fall back to network recognition. Apple manages the installed speech files and system services. Read-aloud uses an available British English system voice. Spell uses speech only; if speech files or permissions are unavailable, Shine remains available by typing. You can revoke either permission in the app's Settings entry; no developer-held audio needs deleting.
Children and third parties
There are no accounts, in-app purchases, adverts, tracking tools or third-party analytics SDKs in the native app. The developer does not collect children's personal information through it. The app does not request a name, email address, date of birth or location. Privacy, Help and the parents and teachers guidance are bundled with the app and readable offline. The app has no website-opening or email-sending controls.
Separate website
The public privacy and support pages are provided for the App Store listing and can be visited separately in a browser. The native app does not open them or send words or audio to them. Visiting those pages uses an internet connection. Vercel may process ordinary connection and security logs such as IP addresses, requested pages, browser information and timestamps to serve and protect the website. The host's retention follows its service and security policies; the app cannot delete hosting logs. The website adds no analytics or advertising cookies.
System services and changes
Apple's operating system, App Store and optional device diagnostics are governed by Apple's own settings and policies. This policy describes the app's code and does not promise that Apple or your browser never processes system information. Material changes to the app's data practices will be reflected in this policy and its App Store privacy answers. Updated: 6 October 2026.
Publisher and support
Spell & Shine is published by Jonathan Pate. Parents and teachers can email spellandshine@gmail.com for help, privacy questions, a missing word or a suggested correction.
Support emails
If you email spellandshine@gmail.com, Jonathan Pate receives your email address and the information you choose to send. Gmail processes these messages as the email provider. They are used to reply to your enquiry and resolve it, and kept only as long as needed for that purpose. You can use the same address to ask for deletion. Support email is separate from the native app: words and microphone audio are not automatically included. Please avoid sending children’s personal information or recordings.
Using the website
Scope
This website policy describes the browser version of Spell & Shine and its public information pages. The native iPhone and iPad app has a separate policy and uses on-device speech recognition.
Website word tool
The website looks up spoken words in Spell and typed or spoken words in Shine in its bundled browser data. It does not upload searches to the developer or save a word history. Browser speech recognition may use the browser provider's online service; its audio processing follows that provider's policies. Spell needs browser speech support; Shine can be used by typing. Browser read-aloud follows the installed browser and system voice settings. The website therefore does not make the native app's on-device-only speech promise.
First-use guides
The website stores two flags in your browser to remember when you have dismissed the Spell and Shine guides. These contain no words or audio and are not sent to the developer. Clearing this website’s browser storage resets the guides. If storage is unavailable, dismissal is remembered only until the page is reloaded.
Website connections
Vercel hosts the website and may process ordinary connection and security logs, such as IP addresses, requested pages, browser information and timestamps, to deliver and protect its pages. The host's retention follows its service and security policies; this word tool cannot delete hosting logs. The website adds no analytics, advertising or tracking tools. Browser providers and the website host operate under their own privacy policies. Please avoid entering personal information as a word search.
Support emails
If you email spellandshine@gmail.com, Jonathan Pate receives your email address and the information you choose to send. Gmail processes these messages as the email provider. They are used to reply to your enquiry and resolve it, and kept only as long as needed for that purpose. You can use the same address to ask for deletion. Support email is separate from the native app: words and microphone audio are not automatically included. Please avoid sending children’s personal information or recordings.
Publisher and support
Spell & Shine is published by Jonathan Pate. Parents and teachers can email spellandshine@gmail.com for help, privacy questions, a missing word or a suggested correction.