Copyright & Privacy

Copyright

Word By Word's name, logo, interface design, code, and original content are © 2026 the operator, to the extent protected by applicable law. All rights reserved.

The built-in Library is presented as material created specifically for dictation practice, including human- and AI-assisted material. Word By Word is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, IELTS, TOEFL, or any other examination body. Exam names are used only to describe general practice levels or formats.

Third-party components bundled with the app — Piper TTS (MIT license), ONNX Runtime, piper-phonemize, and the open-source voice models — remain the property of their respective authors and are redistributed under their own licences. Attributions are provided in the app's Settings → About panel.

Privacy notice

Word By Word is a free web app operated by an individual based in Hong Kong (the operator, we, or us). This notice explains what happens to information when you use the app. Questions, feedback, and privacy requests may be sent to [email protected].

Guest mode

Your learning records, vocabulary, coins, preferences, custom exercises, and imported text are normally kept in browser storage on your device and are not synced to an account. The app still makes network requests to load the site, code, and voice assets, and when you choose an AI feature it sends the prompt described below. Hosting and delivery providers may receive technical request data such as IP address, browser information, requested URL, and time. You can clear local data through the app or your browser.

Account mode (cloud-synced)

Account mode is optional and for adult account holders only. We process your email address, one-time-code records, authentication sessions, acceptance of the current Terms and Privacy Notice, and the learning data you choose to sync (including scores, vocabulary, coins, preferences, creations, imports, and progress). We use this information to create and secure your account, send login codes, sync the app, prevent abuse, respond to requests, and meet legal obligations. We rely on performance of our agreement with you for essential account processing, legitimate interests for proportionate security and abuse prevention, consent where the law requires it, and legal obligation where applicable.

What we do not do

We do not currently use advertising, behavioural profiling, third-party advertising cookies, or product analytics scripts, and we do not sell or rent personal information. We disclose information to service providers only as needed to run the app, as described below, and may disclose it if required by law or to protect users, the service, or legal rights.

Service providers and international transfers

• Cloudflare provides hosting, request delivery, database, and file storage services. It processes account data and technical request data on our behalf.
• Resend receives the account email address and login-message content to deliver one-time codes.
• DeepSeek receives AI prompts and related generation instructions when you use Create or Focus Drill. Do not include names, contact details, private communications, sensitive information, or information about a child in a prompt.
• Hugging Face and jsDelivr may receive technical request data if the app uses a fallback source to download voice models or speech-runtime files.

These providers may process information in countries outside yours, including the United States and, for DeepSeek, the People's Republic of China. Foreign privacy protections and government-access rules may differ. Where required, we rely on providers' contractual transfer terms or other lawful safeguards. Because this is a globally available service, you should not use Account mode or AI features if these transfers are not acceptable to you.

Voice models and AI-generated content

Voice models and speech-runtime files are downloaded and cached on your device; after the required files are cached, speech synthesis normally runs locally. AI features are different: the words, topic, or other text submitted for generation is sent through our Cloudflare function to DeepSeek. We do not intentionally add your email address or full account history to that request, but your prompt itself may identify someone if you put personal information in it. DeepSeek controls its own operational logging and retention under its terms and policies, so we cannot promise immediate deletion or zero retention by that provider. In Account mode, saved AI-created exercises may be included in your synced data.

Retention, security, and deletion

Account information and synced data are kept while the account exists. Login challenges expire after 10 minutes; sessions are issued for up to one year unless you log out or delete the account. Short-lived security and rate-limit records may be kept as needed to prevent abuse. Providers may retain operational logs and backups under their own documented schedules. We use HTTPS, HttpOnly secure session cookies, limited data collection, and provider security controls, but no Internet service can guarantee absolute security.

In Account mode, Settings → Advanced → Reset All permanently deletes the application's user record, email, sessions, one-time-code record, and synced account data, then clears app data on that device. Deletion from provider backups may take longer under provider retention schedules. Guest data can be erased with Reset All or browser controls. To request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability where applicable, or to withdraw consent without affecting earlier lawful processing, email the address above. We may need to verify your identity.

Children

Children are not permitted to register or own an Account. An Account holder must be at least 18. A child may use the app only under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who owns and controls the Account, or in Guest mode under that adult's supervision. The adult must not enter the child's name, email, contact details, private communications, sensitive information, or other personal information into imports, creations, or AI prompts. If you believe a child created an Account or personal information about a child was submitted without appropriate authority, contact us so we can investigate and delete it where appropriate.

This parent-account rule reduces risk but does not eliminate all child-privacy duties in every country. We minimize data, provide no ads or social features, and instruct adults not to submit child data. Parents remain responsible for deciding whether the service is suitable and supervising use.

Complaints and changes

You may contact us first and may also complain to the privacy regulator where you live or work if applicable. We may update this notice as the app or its providers change. Material changes affecting Account users will be presented for renewed acknowledgement where appropriate.

Terms of use

Word By Word is operated by an individual and provided free of charge for personal, non-commercial educational use. By creating or using an Account, you confirm that you are at least 18, agree to these Terms, and acknowledge the Privacy Notice. A parent or legal guardian may allow a child to use the app only through the adult's Account or supervised Guest mode; children may not register.

The app is offered as-is, without warranty of any kind. We work hard to keep it accurate and reliable, but we are not responsible for errors in dictation scoring, generated content, or playback.

You retain any rights you have in text you import or create. You give us a limited permission to host, process, transmit, and copy that material only as needed to provide Account and AI features. You must have the right to submit it and must not submit unlawful, infringing, confidential, or personally sensitive material.

You must not misuse the service, bypass limits or security, interfere with other users, or use generated material as professional, legal, medical, or other high-stakes advice. We may restrict access necessary to protect the service or comply with law. Features and availability may change or end.

Contact

For general questions, feedback, privacy, copyright, or legal requests, email [email protected]. Word By Word is operated by an individual based in Hong Kong.