Using Word Study helps students put sounds and other word elements to work to determine word meaning. Many units in Using Word Study develop understanding about sound-symbol (phonic) associations. Other units address letter combinations, syllabication, roots and affixes, accent patterns, compound words, longer words, and spelling changes caused by adding endings.Using Word Study helps students put sounds and other word elements to work to determine word meaning. Many units in Using Word Study develop understanding about sound-symbol (phonic) associations. Other units address letter combinations, syllabication, roots and affixes, accent patterns, compound words, longer words, and spelling changes caused by adding endings.