QUO Words: Quoting, Quoiting, and Quorum
Start typing QUO and autocomplete offers QUOTE before you finish — that's how dominant this word family's most famous member is. But the QUO- group has more range than people realize. QUOD is an old British slang term for prison. QUOIN is the cornerstone of a building. QUOIT is a ring thrown in a pitching game (think horseshoes but with rings). QUORUM is the minimum number of members needed for a valid vote. Each of these has a distinct origin and use case, but they all share Q's 10-point Scrabble value as a foundation.
QUOTE and its forms (QUOTED, QUOTES, QUOTING, QUOTABLE) are the workhorses here. QUOTE scores 14 points, and QUOTED adds the D for 16. But the real gems for competitive players are the less obvious entries. QUORUM scores 17 points and uses only common tiles after the QU. QUOHOG (a type of clam, also spelled QUAHOG) scores 16 and surprises opponents. In crosswords, QUORUM appears with legislative or meeting clues, while QUOIT gets clued via horseshoe-adjacent games.
Tip: QUOTH ("said" in archaic English, as in "quoth the raven") scores 17 points and is valid in Scrabble. It's a strong play that most people forget exists. For more Q-family strategy, see words starting with PH for another consonant cluster with Greek roots. words starting with JO covers another high-value opening tile, and words starting with ZE gives you options for the other 10-point tile.
FAQ
Is QUOTH a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, QUOTH is valid in both TWL and SOWPODS. It's the past tense of an archaic verb meaning "said" — most people know it from Edgar Allan Poe's "quoth the raven." At 17 points for five tiles, it's one of the best per-tile scoring QU- words. For other archaic but valid words, explore words starting with EX where old legal terms survive.
What is a QUOIN and why do crossword constructors use it?
A QUOIN is the external corner of a building, specifically the decorative stonework at the corner. Crossword constructors love it because Q-O-I-N creates excellent letter crossings and the word is exactly five letters — a common grid length. It's scored at 14 points in Scrabble. For more architectural terms in word games, check words starting with F where FRIEZE and FACADE appear.