Glossary · Spelling rules and patterns
When do you use tch and dge?
Definition
Spell /ch/ as tch and /j/ as dge when the sound follows a short vowel and ends a one-syllable word, as in catch and bridge; otherwise use ch and ge.
These rules follow the same logic as ck and the floss rule. In a one-syllable word, a short vowel followed by one final sound needs a bigger spelling for that sound to stay short. So /ch/ becomes tch (match, ditch, fetch) and /j/ becomes dge (badge, ridge, fudge).
After a consonant, use ch and ge: bench, lunch, hinge, plunge. After a long vowel or vowel team, use ch and ge too: coach, peach, cage, huge.
The tch rule has a few common exceptions: much, such, rich, which and sandwich. The dge rule is very reliable. At the start of a word, /j/ is spelled j before a, o and u, and often g before e, i and y.
In a lesson
Give the student ditch, bench, ridge and cage to sort into tch, ch, dge and ge piles. Ask them to say what sits right before each spelling.
Examples
Each word with its spelling units, one per sound.
- hingeh·i·n·g·e
- bridgeb·r·i·dge
- batchb·a·tch
- sketchs·k·e·tch
- wedgew·e·dge
Words come from our lexicon, checked against a pronouncing dictionary. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out.
Why does this matter for the record?
Rate tch and dge together with ck, since they're the same rule. If one is Secure and the others aren't, the student has memorized words rather than the pattern.
Rate each skill as you teach it
Needs support, Developing, Secure. The rating schedules the review and builds the report.