Better Speller / Guides
Spelling Practice with Apple Pencil on iPad
Yes, a child can practice spelling by hand on iPad. In Better Speller, turn on Handwriting Mode, write each answer with Apple Pencil, and Scribble turns the handwriting into text.
What you need
- An iPad that supports Apple Pencil.
- Better Speller, from the App Store.
- A word list. Type one in, or import one from a file.
Handwriting Mode is for iPad only. On other devices, answers are typed.
How to practice with Apple Pencil
- Open a list and tap Practice or Test.
- Turn on Handwriting Mode. It replaces the keyboard with Apple Scribble.
- Tap Hear Word, or Hear Sentence, to hear the word.
- Write the word in the answer box with Apple Pencil. Scribble turns the handwriting into text.
- Better Speller checks the answer straight away and shows the meaning of the word.
Why practice spelling by hand
Many school spelling tests are written by hand, so practicing by hand matches test day. It also keeps practice from feeling like a typing exercise: your child writes each word out the way they do in their spelling book.
Private by design
In Handwriting Mode, all processing happens on the device and nothing is sent off the device. Better Speller has no account, no ads and no tracking. Your child's lists and scores stay on your device, or in your own iCloud account if you turn on iCloud Sync.
Common questions
Does Better Speller work with Apple Pencil?
Yes, on iPad. Turn on Handwriting Mode, write each answer with Apple Pencil, and Scribble turns it into text. Apple Pencil support is coming to iPhone Duo soon.
Do we need an Apple Pencil to use Better Speller?
No. Handwriting Mode is optional. Without it, your child types each answer, on any device Better Speller runs on.
Which devices have Handwriting Mode?
iPad only for now. Handwriting Mode needs an iPad that supports Apple Pencil. Apple Pencil support is coming to iPhone Duo soon.
Try it with your own list
Better Speller is free to try, with no account and no ads, on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.
