Help & support
Spell & Shine
Native iPhone and iPad app
First-use guides
The first-use tour takes you through Spell, switching modes, Shine and the audio and information buttons automatically. Tap Got it to move to the next step or close the last guide. The tour then returns to Spell. Use Show guides again here to replay all four steps and return to your previous mode.
Spell
Tap anywhere on the speech bar, then say the word you want to spell. Tap again while listening to cancel. Spell uses speech only and does not open a keyboard. Tap the displayed word to hear it. If the spelling cannot be checked, try saying the word again. Unverified words are not displayed or read aloud.
Shine
Type one word and submit it, or use the optional microphone. Choose its meaning if asked, then read the four choices and their short definitions. Some choices are more precise types. Pick the choice that makes sense in your writing.
Word audio
Tap the displayed word in Spell or a choice card in Shine to hear only the word, not its definition. Use the speaker button at the bottom-left to turn word audio off or on. Turning it off stops the current word; you can still use the microphone. Meaning choices and information pages are not read aloud.
More than one word
Shine accepts one word. Spell also accepts reviewed names and compound nouns, such as United Kingdom and ice cream. Other phrases ask you to try again.
Offline microphone
Tap Spell's speech bar or Shine's microphone to start; tap again while listening to cancel. On iPhone or iPad, allow microphone and speech recognition access and make sure Apple's British English speech files are available. Spell requires on-device speech. If speech cannot start, you can still type in Shine.
Keyboard and sound
The keyboard appears only when you tap Shine's word field. Submit the word to dismiss it. If read-aloud is quiet, check the device volume and connected headphones. No microphone or speech permission is needed to type in Shine.
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.
Website word tool
First-use guides
The first-use tour takes you through Spell, switching modes, Shine and the audio and information buttons automatically. Tap Got it to move to the next step or close the last guide. The tour then returns to Spell. Use Show guides again here to replay all four steps and return to your previous mode.
Spell
Tap anywhere on the speech bar, then say the word you want to spell. Tap again while listening to cancel. Spell uses speech only and does not open a keyboard. Tap the displayed word to hear it. If the spelling cannot be checked, try saying the word again. Unverified words are not displayed or read aloud.
Shine
Type one word and submit it, or use the optional microphone. Choose its meaning if asked, then read the four choices and their short definitions. Some choices are more precise types. Pick the choice that makes sense in your writing.
Word audio
Tap the displayed word in Spell or a choice card in Shine to hear only the word, not its definition. Use the speaker button at the bottom-left to turn word audio off or on. Turning it off stops the current word; you can still use the microphone. Meaning choices and information pages are not read aloud.
More than one word
Shine accepts one word. Spell also accepts reviewed names and compound nouns, such as United Kingdom and ice cream. Other phrases ask you to try again.
Browser microphone
Tap Spell's speech bar or Shine's microphone to start; tap again while listening to cancel. Your browser may need microphone permission, a supported speech service and an internet connection. Spell requires browser speech support. If speech cannot start, you can still type in Shine. Browser speech may send audio to its provider; see Privacy for details.
Keyboard and sound
The keyboard appears only when you tap Shine's word field. Submit the word to dismiss it. If read-aloud is quiet, check the device volume and connected headphones. No microphone or speech permission is needed to type in Shine.
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.
For Parents & Teachers
Using Spell & Shine
Say a word in Spell to see its spelling. Type a word in Shine, or use its optional microphone, for four word choices. Encourage children to explain their choice and check that it fits what they want to say. Spell needs supported speech and permissions; Shine can be used by typing without microphone access.
Choosing the right word
Shine offers alternatives or more precise types. They are not always direct replacements: a word may need a different sentence structure, tense or ending. If a meaning choice appears, help the child choose the meaning they intend.
Spelling checks
Spell displays only words checked against its bundled spelling resources. If a spoken word cannot be checked, it asks the child to try again. Recognition can still hear a different valid word; check that the displayed word is the one intended. Reviewed names and compound nouns are accepted; other phrases ask the child to try one word. Unsuitable words and intimate anatomical terms are filtered; ordinary biology words remain available.
Missing words and corrections
The word bank does not cover every word or meaning. Parents and teachers can email spellandshine@gmail.com with the word, intended meaning and any suggested correction. Please do not include a child's name, personal details or a recording.
Publisher and support
Spell & Shine is published by Jonathan Pate. For help or a privacy question, email spellandshine@gmail.com. The app does not send an email or attach a word or recording for you.