The short version
- You do not need an account or login to use SpellingWords.
- SpellingWords uses Google Analytics 4 to understand website usage, such as visits, page traffic, and general traffic sources. It is configured to exclude spelling-list data, shared-list fragments, typed answers, and practice-session identifiers.
- Custom practice words are kept in your browser's session storage while you practice.
- Shared-list links contain the words and optional title in an encoded—not encrypted—form.
- Do not put a child's name or other private information in a word list or list title.
Last updated: August 25, 2026
Information the site handles
Information you enter
You may type or paste spelling words and, when creating a shared link, add an optional list title. SpellingWords does not ask for a name, email address, school, account profile, payment information, or other identifying details. Please use a neutral title such as “Week 4 Spelling” and do not enter personal or sensitive information.
Ordinary website requests
Like other websites, SpellingWords must receive a request from your browser to deliver a page. The hosting and delivery infrastructure may process ordinary technical information associated with that request, such as an IP address, requested page, date and time, browser or device information, and security or diagnostic information. The extent and duration of this processing can vary according to hosting configuration and provider practices.
Information not currently collected through product features
SpellingWords has no accounts, profiles, comments, public posts, purchases, advertising, or contact form.
Custom words and practice sessions
When you start a custom practice session, the words are saved in sessionStorage, a browser storage area for the current tab or browsing session. The practice-page address
contains a random session identifier, not the words. SpellingWords does not save custom
practice lists to a site-operated database.
Session storage is normally cleared when the tab or browser session ends, though exact behavior and controls vary by browser. You can also clear site data using your browser's settings. If session storage is blocked, unavailable, or cleared, the practice session may not load.
Shared spelling-list links
A shared link places its words and optional title after the # symbol in the URL.
This part of a URL is called a fragment. Browsers do not include fragments in ordinary HTTP requests
to the website, so opening the link does not send the list to the SpellingWords server. The list
is decoded in the recipient's browser, and no shared-list copy is stored in a SpellingWords backend.
Encoding is not encryption. Anyone who has the complete link can open it and see the words and title. A link may also remain in browser history, synced-browser data, messages, or any service used to share it. Share links only with intended recipients and leave out names or private information.
Browser speech synthesis
SpellingWords uses the browser's speech-synthesis feature to speak words and sentences. The text is handed to the browser's speech system; SpellingWords does not send it to a site-operated speech API. Depending on the browser, operating system, selected voice, and device settings, speech may be generated on the device or processed by a browser, operating-system, or voice provider's service.
Cookies, storage, and analytics
Cookies
SpellingWords does not set its own application cookies. It uses browser session storage as described above. Google Analytics, described below, may use cookies or similar identifiers to measure site usage.
Analytics
SpellingWords uses Google Analytics 4, a website-analytics service provided by Google, to help understand how the site is used — for example, visits, page usage, traffic sources, and device or browser information, as allowed by the configured Google Analytics property. Google Analytics may use cookies or similar identifiers as part of this measurement. Google has its own privacy and data-processing practices for the Google Analytics service, separate from this policy.
The site's implementation is configured to exclude application-state data from what is sent to Google Analytics: custom spelling-list payloads, shared-list link fragments, typed spelling answers, and internal practice-session identifiers are intentionally left out of the page addresses and events reported to analytics, even when they appear in your browser's address bar. No user account is required to use SpellingWords, with or without analytics enabled.
Services provided by others
- Netlify provides website hosting and delivery.
- Browser and device speech services provide available synthesized voices and may have their own data practices.
SpellingWords may link to external websites for useful context or sources. Those sites and services have their own privacy practices, which SpellingWords does not control.
Children's privacy
SpellingWords is an educational website intended for K–5 students and the adults who support them. Its current product is designed to minimize data collection: no account is needed, and there is no profile, public posting feature, or backend storage for custom lists.
Children should use the site with appropriate parent, guardian, or educator guidance. Adults creating lists should not include a child's name, contact details, school information, or other personal information. Keeping lists non-personal helps preserve the data-minimizing way the practice tools are designed to work.
Retention and security
Custom practice data is retained in browser session storage rather than a SpellingWords account or database. Shared lists exist in the links held by their creators and recipients; SpellingWords does not retain backend copies. Analytics information collected through Google Analytics is retained according to Google's own retention settings for the configured property, not a SpellingWords-operated database. Hosting providers may process ordinary request information as described above according to their configurations and practices.
SpellingWords uses data minimization and a static, frontend-first design to reduce risk, but no website or device can guarantee perfect security. Shared links should not be treated as secret or secure storage.
Changes to this policy
This policy will be updated when the site's data practices materially change, including before or when accounts, forms, cloud saving, advertising, or additional relevant services are introduced. The updated policy will show a new “Last updated” date.