The O is not just the fourth vowel alphabetically, it is also the fourth-best in Scrabble, not quite as good as A or I, certainly nowhere near as good as the E, but better than the U. Having said that, it has the advantage that if you get too many of them they are easier to get rid of in bulk than A or I as there are plenty of short words with a double O. For instance, your noops look too cool in that mooi zoot, yoof. (NOOP is the point of your elbow, MOOI means pleasing, YOOF is the same as YOUTH.)
Useful two-letter words with an O include OO, JO, ZO, KO and OX. Prefixes and suffixes with O include OVER-, OUT-, -TION and -SION.
There are a few interesting O end-hooks – that is, words you can put an O at the end of to form a new one. You might be able to use:
GODSO old-fashioned expression of surprise
QUIPO a system of knotted cords used by the Incas to record information
RABBITO formerly, an itinerant seller of rabbits for eating; also spelt RABBITOH
SCREAMO type of music with screaming vocals
LEGGIERO light; delicate
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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