Meaning & use
phonics
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
A method of teaching people to read by connecting letters and letter groups with the sounds they represent.
Grammar: Takes a singular verb: Phonics is taught in many schools. No plural form.
Patterns
- teach phonics
- learn phonics
- phonics instruction
- a phonics program
Many elementary schools use phonics to help children read.
She learned phonics before she could read whole words.
The teacher explained how phonics connects letters to sounds.
Common combinations
- phonics method
- The phonics method is popular for early reading.
- phonics instruction
- Good phonics instruction improves spelling.
- synthetic phonics
- Synthetic phonics teaches sounds in a specific order.
- phonics screening
- The phonics screening check tests young children's reading.
Synonyms and how they differ
- phonetics
- Phonetics is the scientific study of speech sounds, while phonics is a teaching method for reading.
Word family
- phonic adjective
- Relating to speech sounds.
Commonly confused: phonics or phonetics?
phonics vs phonetics
Phonetics is the academic study of speech sounds; phonics is a way of teaching reading.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'phonics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Phonics' is uncountable and takes a singular verb, so 'is' is correct. 'Are' is wrong because the word is not plural; adding 'a' or 'the' is also incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “phonics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.