What is a Scrabble word checker?
A Scrabble word checker tells you whether a word is allowed in the game. Type up to 20 words and Unknot Words looks each one up in both official tournament lists at once: the NASPA Word List (NWL2023) used in the United States and Canada, and Collins Scrabble Words (CSW24) used in the UK and most international play. For every word you also see its Scrabble score.
By Unknot Words · Last updated
How to use the word checker
- Type one or more words, separated by spaces or commas. Capital letters are fine, and repeats are checked only once.
- Select “Check Words”. Each word appears on its own row with a valid or not valid result for the US and UK lists.
- Read the points. The last column shows each word's face value, and when you check several words you also get a total of the valid ones for each dictionary.
Examples
| Word | US (NWL) | UK (CSW) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| QI | Valid | Valid | 11 |
| ZA | Valid | Valid | 11 |
| CH | Not valid | Valid | 7 |
| QUIXOTIC | Valid | Valid | 26 |
| OXYPHENBUTAZONE | Valid | Valid | 41 |
QI and ZA are two of the most useful words in the game: two tiles that put a 10-point letter on the board. CH shows the difference between the lists; it is an old dialect word accepted only in Collins. OXYPHENBUTAZONE, a 15-letter drug name, is famous among players for the enormous theoretical score it could earn stretched across three triple word squares, far beyond its 41-point face value.
How Scrabble tiles are scored
| Points | Letters |
|---|---|
| 1 | A, E, I, O, U, L, N, S, T, R |
| 2 | D, G |
| 3 | B, C, M, P |
| 4 | F, H, V, W, Y |
| 5 | K |
| 8 | J, X |
| 10 | Q, Z |
The checker shows the face value: the sum of the tile values. In a real game, double and triple letter squares multiply single tiles, double and triple word squares multiply the whole word, a blank tile scores zero, and using all seven tiles in one turn earns a 50-point bonus. Those depend on where the word is played, so they are added on the board rather than here.
When to use a word checker
- Settling a challenge. At home, check a disputed word instantly instead of arguing over a printed dictionary.
- Checking a whole play. A single move can form several words at once. Enter the main word and every cross-word together to confirm they are all valid.
- Learning the lists. If you play in both North America and internationally, compare the two columns to learn which words are Collins-only. Our guide NWL vs CSW explains the differences.
- Spelling practice. Students can test their own spellings of unusual words and see their value, which turns spelling practice into a game.
Checking a word tells you whether it is allowed, but not where it fits. To find words that fit your board, use the Scrabble word finder, or unscramble your rack with the word unscrambler. For strategy, read Scrabble strategy basics.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a word is valid in Scrabble?
Type the word into the checker. It looks the word up in both official tournament lists, the NASPA Word List used in North America and Collins Scrabble Words used in the UK and internationally, and shows whether it is valid in each.
How are Scrabble points calculated?
Each tile has a value from 1 to 10 points: common letters such as E, A and S are worth 1, while Q and Z are worth 10. A word's face value is the sum of its tiles. Premium squares and the 50-point bonus for using all seven tiles are added on the board.
Why is a word valid in the UK but not the US?
Collins Scrabble Words is the larger list. It includes nearly every word in the NASPA Word List plus many British, Commonwealth, archaic and technical words, so words such as CH and QIN are valid only in the UK list.
Can I check more than one word at a time?
Yes. Enter up to 20 words separated by spaces or commas, for example the main word and every cross-word a play creates. The checker shows each word on its own row with a total for the valid words.
Does the checker work for Words with Friends?
Words with Friends uses its own word list, which overlaps heavily with the US Scrabble list but is not identical, and its tiles have different point values. Use the checker as a strong guide, not a final ruling, for that game.
Does the checker show definitions?
No. Tournament word lists record which words are allowed, not what they mean. Look up an unfamiliar word in a standard dictionary to learn its definition.