In contrast to the L, an M is nearly always worth having. It is hugely versatile for two-letter words, including the all-consonant HM and MM (you might also put MY in this category), meaning it is often easy to slip onto a triple-letter square for twenty points or more.
EM unit of measurement of type
HM expressing doubt
MM expressing enjoyment of taste
OM sacred Hindu syllable
UM expressing hesitation
MA mother
MI a musical note
MO a moment
MU a Greek letter
Prefixes and suffixes with M include MIS- (MISRULE, MISLEAD, MISENTER), -ISM (EGOTISM, CRONYISM, GIANTISM), -MAN (GATEMAN, LINEMAN, HUNTSMAN, all with their appropriate -MEN plurals) and -MENT (ELEMENT, FERMENT, ARGUMENT).
An M also fits neatly with most reasonable one-point tile combinations to make seven- and eight-letter words. There are common ones like MUSTIER and INMATES, and more exotic fare such as:
MERLONS upright sections in a crenellated battlement
MALTOSE a sugar formed by enzymes and starch
MOTELIER a person who runs a motel
By Barry Grossman
Barry is a leading UK Scrabble player and winner of several tournaments. He is the author of Scrabble for Beginners (Chambers), Need to Know Scrabble, Scrabble – Play to Win and The Little Book of Scrabble Trickster. He has also contributed to numerous other books on the subject of words and word-games, has been a series champion of Channel 4’s Countdown, and has written four comedy series for BBC Radio 4. He lives in Hertford.
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