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Word Study

Getting Started
Advanced Word Study

GETTING STARTED

If you’re seri­ous about play­ing com­pet­i­tive Scrabble, get used to the idea of learn­ing a sub­stan­tial amount of new vocab­u­lary. For more about the word lists in the charts below (and on word study in gen­eral), read this POST.  Also see this POST on the Scrabble lexicon.

I’ve grouped lists into Beginner and Intermediate cat­e­gories.  The first list in the Beginning table con­tains only 8 two-letter words.  Use it to get your feet wet.  Posts with study tips and com­men­tary are linked under each of the two tables.  Other related posts can be located using the cat­e­gory list in the right-hand side col­umn or by tak­ing a look at archived posts.

Beginner Word Lists

LEVELFILEWORDSDESCRIPTION
Beg 1.1TWOS JQXZ8All two-letter words that con­tain J, Q, X or Z.
Beg 1.2TWOS Left93All remain­ing two-letter words (i.e. TWOS not included in JQXZ list).
Combined two-letter words list (i.e. all 101 TWOS):
TWOS ALL (101) List (JQXZ words first, then remain­ing)
TWOS ALL (101) Alpha (alpha­bet­i­cal)
TWOS ALL (101) Cat (by category).
Beg 1.3THREES JQXZ89All three-letter words that con­tain J, Q, X or Z.
Combined three-letter word lists (i.e. all 1015 THREES):
THREES ALL (1015) Alpha (alphabetical)
Beg 1.4Q No QU22All words with Q, but no QU combination
Beg 1.5VOWEL DUMPS Short892 – 5 let­ter words that are at least 70% vowels.

Beginner Word Lists: Selected Posts & Study Notes

TWOS JQXZ, TWOS Left Hooks, TWOS Left Visual, THREES JQXZ, Q No QU, Vowel Dumps Short (1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4, 4 of 4). If you think you’ve got the 2s down, test your­self by going HERE.  Go HERE to test your­self on two-letter word front and back hooks.

Intermediate Word Lists

LEVELFILEWORDSDESCRIPTION
Int 2.1THREES Left926All remain­ing three-letter words (not included in other lists). Combined three-letter word lists (i.e. all 1015 THREES):
THREES ALL (1015) Alpha (alphabetical)
Int 2.2FOURS JQXZ269All four-letter words that con­tain J, Q, X or Z.
Int 2.3VOWEL DUMPS Long
NOTE: This file con­tains all remain­ing VOWEL DUMPS.
437 – 8 let­ter words that are at least 70% vow­els (there are no 6 let­ter words that are 70% vowels).
Int 2.3VOWEL DUMPS IU2884 – 5 let­ter words with 2 Is; 6 let­ter words with 3 Is; 3 – 5 let­ter words with 2 Us; 6 let­ter words with 3 or more Us.
Int 2.3VOWEL DUMPS 63116 let­ter words with 4 vowels.
Int 2.3VOWEL DUMPS 82028 let­ter words with 5 vowels..
Int 2.4SEVENS Stems 01 – 03Seven-letter Type I words with TISANE, SATIRE, and RETAIN as stems.
Int 2.5FIVES JQXZ697All five-letter words that con­tain J, Q, X or Z.

Intermediate Word Lists: Selected Posts & Study Notes

FIVES JQXZ (1 of 7, 2 of 7)

ADVANCED WORD STUDY

Although many of these tools are men­tioned else­where on this site, if you’ve made it this far, it’s time to check them out (if you haven’t already): ISC, John Chew’s Scrabble Page, LeXpert, Metagrams, Quackle, and Zyzzyva (If you think I’ve missed an “essen­tial” tool, email me or post a comment).

The Cheat Sheet
Hooks
Alphagrams
Bingo Stems

The Cheat Sheet

I real­ize that not all Scrabble play­ers mem­o­rize def­i­n­i­tions.  Despite assur­ances that I’d get used to going definition-less, it hasn’t hap­pend yet.  If I’m going to learn a word, then I want to know what it means.  In that spirit, here are Note Sheets (words, hooks, def­i­n­i­tions, and a blank col­umn for notes) for all the words on the Cheat Sheet: 2s, Short JQXZs, 3s, Short Vowel Dumps, I & U Dumps, TISANE+?, SATIRE+? and RETAIN+?.  The Cheat Sheet is a good pre­req­ui­site for advanced word study (and is a review of what has already been cov­ered the Getting Started sec­tion above).  It has a total of 1813 words (sig­nif­i­cantly more if you study these lists care­fully and learn plu­rals, other deriva­tures, and other related words while you’re at it).  Here are some hook grids (just for good mea­sure): 2s Blank, 2s Filled, 2s Full, 3s Blank, 3s Filled and 3s Full.  Here is a link to the Cheat Sheet itself.

Hooks

A very good player once told me that one of things that most effec­tively improved her game was a care­ful study of the 3-letter word to 4-letter word hooks.  After think­ing about this for a few min­utes, it makes per­fect sense.  There are only 1015 three-letter words, and there are numer­ous front and back hooks, so know­ing these hooks will often result in a hook for a bingo or a great par­al­lel play. [Files to be insterted]

Alphagrams

Some play­ers swear by alpha­grams. I’m reserv­ing judg­ment until I have more expe­ri­ence. Regardless of their util­ity, alpha­grams aren’t a lot of fun with­out a gen­eral knowl­edge of the words one is attempt­ing to alpha­gram.  The first few files in the table below are designed to increase famil­iar­ity with the under­ly­ing words before focus­ing on the alpha­gram lists.

LNFILEDESCRIPTION
7sTop 1000 7s AlphaTop 1000 7s Note Sheet (based on prob­a­bil­ity), sorted alphabetically
7sTop 1000 7s ProbTop 1000 7s Note Sheet (based on prob­a­bil­ity), sorted by probability
7sTop 5000 7s AlphaTop 5000 7s Note Sheet (based on prob­a­bil­ity), sorted alphabetically
7sTop 5000 7s ProbTop 5000 7s Note Sheet (based on prob­a­bil­ity), sorted by probability
7sAlphagram Quiz — Top 1000 7s, Form 1Alphagram Quiz Sheet, Top 1000 7s (based on prob­a­bil­ity), ran­dom order, Form 1
7sAlphagram KEY, Top 1000 7s, Form 1Alphagram KEY, Top 1000 7s (based on prob­a­bil­ity), ran­dom order, Form 1
7sAlphagram Quiz — Top 1000 7s, Form 2Alphagram Quiz Sheet, Top 1000 7s (based on prob­a­bil­ity), ran­dom order, Form 2
7sAlphagram KEY, Top 1000 7s, Form 2Alphagram KEY, Top 1000 7s (based on prob­a­bil­ity), ran­dom order, Form 2

Bingo Stems

Top 100 6-letter Bingo Stems (from Mike Baron’s Scrabble Workbook)
Other 6-letter Bingo Stems
Top 100 7-letter Bingo Stems (from Mike Baron’s Scrabble Workbook)
Other 7-letter Bingo Stems
Go HERE for an expla­na­tion of Bingo Stems

Although you can use Zyzzyva (or a sim­i­lar pro­gram) to cre­ate your own mnemon­ics, a quicker approach is to use what other folks have come up with and shared.  John Chew’s Scrabble Page and Metagrams are both great sources.  Click HERE for a grid of Mike Baron’s Top 100 6-Letter Bingo Stems (with def­i­n­i­tions of the 6-letter stems and the asso­ci­ated mnemonic).

[Note: I will fill these grids out as I make my way through the Bingo Stems]

Top 100 6-letter Bingo Stems (from Mike Baron’s Scrabble Workbook)

#WORDDEFINITIONMNEMONICPDF
1TISANEa pti­san (a tea of herbs or bar­ley) [n –S] */sTUCKSHOP WIZ FIXES MEDICINAL BEVERAGEPDF
2SATIREthe use of deri­sive wit to attack folly or wicked­ness [n –S] : SATIRIC [adj] */sBAD SPEECH REVIEW – FLAMING WITPDF
3RETAINto keep pos­ses­sion of [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sSMUG WIFE KEEPS THE CHILDRENPDF
4ARSINEa poi­so­nous gas [n –S] */sPOISON MIGHT KILL OFF THRIVING CHILDPDF
5SENIORa per­son who is older than another [n –S] */sOLD MVP JOGS WITH A CRUTCHPDF
6STERNA–STERNUM, a long, flat sup­port­ing bone of most ver­te­brates [n] */lMAN WORKING OUT DEVELOPS THICK BONEPDF
7TOE-SINNAIS TO MARCH WITH PLAIN BOOT WAXPDF
8–ORATES–ORATE, to speak for­mally [v] b/*ADAMANT PREACHERS CALLED BRAGGARTSPDF
9REASONto derive infer­ences or con­clu­sions from known or pre­sumed facts [v –ED, –ING, –S] t/sBIG LECTURES TRIUMPHPDF
10INSERTto put in [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sWOMEN SHOVED STUCK FLAGPOLEPDF
11TONERS–TONER, one that tones (to give a par­tic­u­lar tone (a sound of def­i­nite pitch and vibra­tion) to) [n] as/*HARD PECKS OF BIG TOUGHMAN
12–EASTERa wind or storm from the east [n –S] f/nsCHRIST BACK UP; GOD WILL FIX MAN
13AIDERS–AIDER, one that aids (to help (to give assis­tance to)) [n] r/*HELP FIX TRUCK BOMB? NIVER!
14RAINEDRAIN, to fall like rain (drops of water con­densed from atmos­pheric vapor) [v] bdgt/*DAMP RAINS BROUGHT HAVOC
15LESIONto cause an abnor­mal change in the struc­ture of an organ [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sTUMOR? PAGE SKILFUL DOCTOR
16TORIESTORY, a polit­i­cal con­ser­v­a­tive [n] s/*BUNCH OF OLD GRUMPS
17TOILES–TOILE, a sheer linen fab­ric [n] e/*PREZ GOT CAUGHT HAVING MONICA
18SERIALa lit­er­ary or dra­matic work pre­sented in suc­ces­sive install­ments [n –S] */sA CHANGEABLE TV DRAMA (JAWS?)
19NAILERone that nails (to fas­ten with a nail (a slen­der piece of metal)) [n –S] */sVEXES SPOCK MIGHTILY
20–ALIENS–ALIEN, to trans­fer to another, as prop­erty [v] */*SPOCK’S FOXY VW BUG HOLDS TO FORM
21I-ON-SEANA*MIMIC ATOP GRAVEL
22SALTIEa deep-sea ves­sel sail­ing the Great Lakes [n –S] */rsFIZZ BLOCKS DRIVING SHIP
23RETAILto sell in small quan­ti­ties [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sCHUMP-Y LENDER TURNS BUCKS
24RETIES–RETIE, TIE, to fas­ten with a cord or rope [v] */*SHACKLED MAZE PREVENTS ESCAPE
25ENTIREthe whole of some­thing [n –S] */sIN GREAT CHUNKS
26SAD-TIENACURES WOVEN GLUM
27–ATONES–ATONE, to make amends or repa­ra­tion [v] */*TIP CUP – RID GUILT
28SOLATEto change to a fluid col­loidal sys­tem [v –ATED, –ATING, –ATES] i/dsFRIZZING VIBES HENPECKED ME
29OR-ALESNAAM: THE HANDSOME, PM: THE DOGFACED
30I-SAT-ONNAMEN ELECT A GREEK REBEL
31SAINEDSAIN, to make the sign of the cross on [v] */*BRAVE FELT CRAMPED
32DORIESDORY, a flat-bottomed boat [n] */*MEAN WAVES TOPPLE BOATS
33GAINERone that gains (to acquire (to come into pos­ses­sion of)) [n –S] */sFAT PREZ WATCHED ELEVEN BALL GAMES
34LISTERa type of plow [n –S] bgk/sCHIEF JOB: MAKING UP LISTS
35ENTERS–ENTER, to come or go into [v] crtv/*CONVEX PORTALS GUIDE WAY
36–SALTERone that salts (to treat with salt (a crys­talline com­pound used as a sea­son­ing and preser­v­a­tive)) [n –S] p/nsMUCKED UP BEST OF PUDDING – VILE WHIFF
37–TIRADEa long, vehe­ment speech [n –S] */sSHARP TALK BY AN ANGRY VAMP
38SILENTmak­ing no sound or noise [adj –LENTER, –LENTEST] : SILENTLY [adv] */sUNCLE SPEAKING NO WORD
39DIALERone that dials (to manip­u­late a cal­i­brated disk) [n –S] */sCALL UP YOUR BRAVEST G.I.
40LADIESLADY, a woman of refine­ment and gen­tle man­ners [n] */*DIMPLED VENUSES HURT BOYS
41DATERS–DATER, one that dates (to deter­mine or record the date of) [n] */*NEWLY BETROTHED FEMME PICKED VEIL
42SNIDER–SNIDE, mali­ciously deroga­tory [adj] */*WIMP KVETCHING ABOUT WIFE
43ADORES–ADORE, to love deeply [v] */*FIRM TRUST; VIVID GLOW
44SERINE–an amino acid [n –S] e/sRIVAL HAD SIX DYNAMIC HANDS
45SEEN-ITNAEXPERT CHEWS VEG, FEELS REDEEMED
46LATENS–LATEN, to become late (com­ing or occur­ring after the expected time) [v] p/*RUDE COP GAVE HIM A TICKET
47STANED–STANE, to stone (to pelt with stones (pieces of con­creted earthy or min­eral mat­ter)) [v] */*PUT A LIGHT ROCK OVER ME
48TENAILtenaille (an outer defense) [n –S] */sKEEPS MOVER GRUFF
49TEINDS–TEIND, a tithe [n] */*GLUM TURK PAYS TEINDS
50DESIREto wish for [v –SIRED, –SIRING, –SIRES] */drsZEALOUS FANS CRAVED TOP BALLGAME
51–SENATEan assem­bly hav­ing high delib­er­a­tive and leg­isla­tive func­tions [n –S] */sCHIMPS JIGGLING DIRT
52–LEARNS–LEARN, to gain knowl­edge by expe­ri­ence, instruc­tion, or study [v] */*GO, MIND, KEEP TRACK!
53SENITIa mon­e­tary unit of Tonga [n SENITI] */*WE KEEP BANK OF TONGA VAULT LOCKED
54ORIENTto adjust in rela­tion to some­thing else [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sJUST SNUG PUB CULT
55–TRAINS–TRAIN, to instruct sys­tem­at­i­cally [v] s/*GLOBAL CHOO-CHOO PUMPS AQUA STEAM
56STRIDEto walk with long steps [v STRODE, STRIDDEN, STRIDING, STRIDES] a/rsBRISK CHAP RUNS OVER HERE
57INTROS–INTRO, an intro­duc­tion [n] */*HUGGING PAL FACE TO FACE
58SANDERone that sands (to smooth by rub­bing with an abra­sive) [n –S] */sWHIZ-KID’S FLIGHT: SPRUCED LUMBER
59OATIES*NA*MONOPOLIZED MIKE
60STORED–STORE, to put away for future use [v] */*HE PUT AWAY ONE BOTTLE OF MILK
61TODIESTODY, a West Indian bird [n] */*MAJOR CHUTZPAH FOOD
62OILERS–OILER, one that oils (to sup­ply with oil (a greasy liq­uid used for lubri­ca­tion, fuel, or illu­mi­na­tion)) [n] bcmt/*DUMP CRUD, GOBS, TONS
63ANI-TOENA*SOME ANIS CLIMB
64STEROLa type of solid alco­hol [n –S] */sCOMPLETED FIVE WHIFF JOBS: AAH!
65TENIAE–TENIA, a tape­worm (a par­a­sitic worm) [n] */*LABS AMASS LARVA
66TEARIE*NA*PERSONAL LAMENTATION
67NEROLI–a fra­grant oil [n –S] */sSEAPORT
68RANEES–RANEE, rani (the wife of a rajah) [n] */*LOOK DOWN ON COMMON GROTTO
69SOIGNEcare­fully done [adj] */eA JEW BELCHED PROUDLY
70ARIOSEchar­ac­ter­ized by melody [adj] */**PAN BAD VOICE
71DETAINto hold in cus­tody [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sI’D VISIT FRUMP
72SINGER–one that sings (to utter with musi­cal inflec­tions of the voice) [n –S] */sWE LOVE THE CRAZY POP SOUND OF BOY GEORGE
73EASIEREASY, not dif­fi­cult [adj] */**LET MAID WIPE FLOOR
74EOLIANper­tain­ing to the wind [adj] a/*STAR PARKA
75RESALEthe act of sell­ing again [n –S] p/sHOCKEY TICKET DID GET EXPENSIVE
76–UNITER–one that unites (to bring together so as to form a whole) [n –S] */sGRABBED MORE VOTES
77–SOILEDSOIL, to make dirty (unclean (free from dirt or stain)) [v] */*DRIBBLED MILK ON MY PARKA
78STEREO–to make a type of print­ing plate [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sVANDALS MARK MAHARAJA’S TV
79LINERS–LINER, a com­mer­cial ship or air­plane [n] a/*KEPT ABOVE MIG
80ALE-ROTNALURCH, GUV! PUFF BUDS
81ENTOILto entrap (to trap (to catch in a trap (a device for cap­tur­ing and hold­ing ani­mals))) [v –ED, –ING, –S] */sA CHAP GUARDS A VW
82GARNETa min­eral [n –S] */sWONDROUSLY PUFFY MINERAL
83EASINGEASE, to give rest or relief to [v] cflt/*BOOK ON COMFORT: GULP OUZO
84OIL-SATNANEXT BUG CRAMP
85TINIERTINY, very small [adj] */*MAN CHANGED A VW FLAT
86ATE-SODNARIN TIN TIN BIT CLIPPING
87SNORED–SNORE, to breathe loudly while sleep­ing [v] */*CIVIL WHIMPER BURSTED
88ELITES–ELITE, a socially supe­rior group [n] pv/*POSH FOLKS GOVERNED COMPLEX
89INMATEone who is con­fined to an insti­tu­tion [n –S] */sRELAXING BY HIS CELL DOOR
90–NEATERNEAT, being in a state of clean­li­ness and order [adj] */*SLICK RV, RIGHT?
91LANOSElanate (cov­ered with wool) [adj] */*PITCHER
92GREATS–GREAT, a dis­tin­guished or out­stand­ing per­son [n] */*HAVING PERSONALITY
93ATTIREto clothe (to pro­vide with cloth­ing) [v –TIRED, –TIRING, –TIRES] */dsCAP, SCARF, AND BELT
94TRONAS–TRONA, a min­eral [n] */*MINUTE COPY
95TUNERS–TUNER, one that tunes (to put into the proper pitch) [n] */*OLD PIANOS BECOME RIGHT
96–PRAISEto express approval or admi­ra­tion of [v PRAISED, PRAISING, PRAISES] u/drsAPPROVED MEN WATCH US
97DOE-RANNACLIMB UP GRID
98SUITER–a suit­case hold­ing a spec­i­fied num­ber of suits (sets of gar­ments) [n –S] */sGROOM HOLDS OFF ON PVQ COMBO
99OALIES*NA*CON DEBATING
100ALDERS–ALDER, a shrub or small tree [n] */*FIR’S THORNS PRICKLED TWO BUMS

[NOTE: This sec­tion is under construction]