Spelling rules
Spelling rules, with every word that follows them
Each rule below has a one-sentence answer, the complete word list from our lexicon split by sub-case, the words that break it, a teacher script and a sorting activity.
The answer
English spelling is more regular than it looks. These 20 rules cover the decisions students make most often, from ck or k to when to double a consonant, and their tables list 5,508 different words from our lexicon, exceptions included.
Teach a rule only after students can read the words it covers. A rule is a shortcut for a spelling decision, and it helps a student who already hears the short vowel in "back" choose between ck and k. It does little for a student still guessing at the vowel.
Every page counts its exceptions instead of hiding them. Some rules are close to airtight (the doubling rule and soft c have almost none in common words); others, like i before e, only hold once you limit them to one sound. Knowing which is which tells you how much class time a rule deserves.
Consonant spellings at the end of a word
The floss rule: ff, ll, ss and zz
Floss rule word lists split by ff, ll, ss and zz, every exception our lexicon finds, a teacher script, a sorting activity and answers to common questions.The ck or k rule at the end of a word
When to spell /k/ with ck, k or ke at the end of a word, with full word lists, the ic ending in longer words, the exceptions and a teacher script.The tch or ch rule
When /ch/ at the end of a word is spelled tch or ch, with word lists split by what comes before the sound, the exceptions and a teacher script.The dge or ge rule
When /j/ at the end of a word is spelled dge or ge: dge after one short vowel, ge everywhere else. Word lists, exceptions and a teacher script.English words do not end in v
Why English words end in ve instead of v, with lists of ve words split by the vowel before them, the exceptions in our lexicon and a teacher script.
Choosing a spelling by position
C or k at the start of a word
C or k for /k/ at the start of a word: c before a, o, u and consonants, k before e, i and y. Full word lists, the exceptions and a teacher script.Soft c and soft g
C and g usually say /s/ and /j/ before e, i or y. Soft c and soft g word lists, every hard g exception in our lexicon, and a teacher script.Q is followed by u
In English words, q is almost always followed by u. Lists of qu words at the start, inside words and where qu says /k/, with a teacher script.ai or ay: where each spelling goes
ai spells long a inside a syllable (rain) and ay spells it at the end (play). Word lists by position, the exceptions in our lexicon and a script.oi or oy: where each spelling goes
oi spells the /oi/ sound inside a syllable (coin) and oy spells it at the end (boy). Word lists by position, exceptions from our lexicon and a script.ou or ow for the sound in cow
ou spells the vowel in cow inside a syllable (cloud); ow spells it at the end or before a final n or l (cow, town, owl). Word lists and exceptions.au or aw for the sound in saw
aw spells the vowel in saw at the end of a word or before a final n, l or k (lawn, crawl, hawk); au goes inside the word. Word lists and exceptions.I before e, except after c
When long e is spelled ie or ei: ie in most words, ei after c, and ei for long a. Full word lists and every exception our lexicon finds.
Adding suffixes
The doubling rule, also called the 1-1-1 rule
The 1-1-1 doubling rule with full word lists by suffix, words that correctly do not double and why, a teacher script and a sorting activity.Doubling in two-syllable words: the 2-1-1 rule
When to double the last consonant of a two-syllable word before -ed, -ing or -er: begin, beginning; visit, visited. Word lists and exceptions.The drop e rule
Drop the silent e before a suffix that starts with a vowel: make, making. Full word lists by suffix, the words that keep the e, and a teacher script.The y to i rule
Change y to i before a suffix when a consonant comes before the y: cry, cried; happy, happier. Keep y before -ing. Full word lists and exceptions.Adding s or es
When to add -s and when to add -es for plurals and verbs: after s, x, z, ch and sh, use -es. Full word lists, words ending in o, and exceptions.Adding -ed: three sounds, one spelling
The suffix -ed says /ed/, /d/ or /t/ depending on the last sound of the base word. Full word lists for each sound, the exceptions and a teacher script.Adding -ing: the five cases
How to add -ing: just add it, double the consonant, drop the silent e, keep the y, or change ie to y. Full word lists for each case and a script.
Questions people ask
What order should spelling rules be taught in?
Follow the reading sequence. Floss, ck and the c or k rule fit right after short vowels and digraphs. Tch and dge come once students read blends, and ai and ay, oi and oy follow vowel teams. The suffix rules start when students read -ing and -ed; the two-syllable doubling rule waits until grade 3 or later.
Do spelling rules have too many exceptions to be useful?
Some do, most do not. Each page counts the exceptions from the same lexicon as the rule, so you can see the ratio. When a rule covers hundreds of words and breaks on a handful, it is worth teaching.
Should students memorize the rule wording?
No. They should be able to make the decision the rule describes and explain it in their own words. A student who says "one short vowel right before the /k/, so ck" understands the rule better than one who recites it.