Spelling rule

The doubling rule, also called the 1-1-1 rule

The answer

The 1-1-1 rule: if a word has one syllable, one vowel and one final consonant, double that consonant before a suffix that starts with a vowel (hop, hopping; big, bigger). Our lexicon has 467 doubled words and 165 that correctly do not double.

When does the rule apply?

The rule protects the short vowel. In "hoping", one p leaves the o at the end of an open syllable, so it says its long sound. In "hopping", the second p closes the syllable and keeps the o short. Students who understand that need far less drill. The count must hold every time: one syllable, one vowel letter, one consonant letter after it. "Jump" ends in two consonants, so no doubling. "Rain" has two vowel letters, so no doubling. The suffix matters too: -ing, -ed, -er, -est and -y trigger it, while -ly, -ness and -ful do not.

Words that follow the rule

Doubled before -ing

194 words

Doubled before -ing
Word	Word sum	Readable after
betting	bet + t + ing	Lesson 107
bidding	bid + d + ing	Lesson 107
cutting	cut + t + ing	Lesson 107
fitting	fit + t + ing	Lesson 107
getting	get + t + ing	Lesson 107
hitting	hit + t + ing	Lesson 107
letting	let + t + ing	Lesson 107
ridding	rid + d + ing	Lesson 107
running	run + n + ing	Lesson 107
setting	set + t + ing	Lesson 107
sitting	sit + t + ing	Lesson 107
winning	win + n + ing	Lesson 107
dropping	drop + p + ing	Lesson 107
planning	plan + n + ing	Lesson 107
shopping	shop + p + ing	Lesson 107
shutting	shut + t + ing	Lesson 107
spotting	spot + t + ing	Lesson 107
stopping	stop + p + ing	Lesson 107
trapping	trap + p + ing	Lesson 107
splitting	split + t + ing	Lesson 107
banning	ban + n + ing	Lesson 107
digging	dig + g + ing	Lesson 107
dotting	dot + t + ing	Lesson 107
jamming	jam + m + ing	Lesson 107
kidding	kid + d + ing	Lesson 107
manning	man + n + ing	Lesson 107
mapping	map + p + ing	Lesson 107
padding	pad + d + ing	Lesson 107
popping	pop + p + ing	Lesson 107
ripping	rip + p + ing	Lesson 107
summing	sum + m + ing	Lesson 107
wedding	wed + d + ing	Lesson 107
wetting	wet + t + ing	Lesson 107
chatting	chat + t + ing	Lesson 107
chopping	chop + p + ing	Lesson 107
clipping	clip + p + ing	Lesson 107
dragging	drag + g + ing	Lesson 107
dripping	drip + p + ing	Lesson 107
flagging	flag + g + ing	Lesson 107
flipping	flip + p + ing	Lesson 107
grabbing	grab + b + ing	Lesson 107
plotting	plot + t + ing	Lesson 107
plugging	plug + g + ing	Lesson 107
scanning	scan + n + ing	Lesson 107
shedding	shed + d + ing	Lesson 107
shipping	ship + p + ing	Lesson 107
skipping	skip + p + ing	Lesson 107
slipping	slip + p + ing	Lesson 107
spitting	spit + t + ing	Lesson 107
stepping	step + p + ing	Lesson 107
stunning	stun + n + ing	Lesson 107
swapping	swap + p + ing	Lesson 107
swimming	swim + m + ing	Lesson 107
wrapping	wrap + p + ing	Lesson 107
scrapping	scrap + p + ing	Lesson 107
stripping	strip + p + ing	Lesson 107
upping	up + p + ing	Lesson 107
bagging	bag + g + ing	Lesson 107
batting	bat + t + ing	Lesson 107
bedding	bed + d + ing	Lesson 107
begging	beg + g + ing	Lesson 107
binning	bin + n + ing	Lesson 107
bobbing	bob + b + ing	Lesson 107
budding	bud + d + ing	Lesson 107
bugging	bug + g + ing	Lesson 107
canning	can + n + ing	Lesson 107
capping	cap + p + ing	Lesson 107
codding	cod + d + ing	Lesson 107
conning	con + n + ing	Lesson 107
copping	cop + p + ing	Lesson 107
dabbing	dab + b + ing	Lesson 107
damming	dam + m + ing	Lesson 107
dimming	dim + m + ing	Lesson 107
dinning	din + n + ing	Lesson 107
dipping	dip + p + ing	Lesson 107
dubbing	dub + b + ing	Lesson 107
fanning	fan + n + ing	Lesson 107
gabbing	gab + b + ing	Lesson 107
gassing	gas + s + ing	Lesson 107
gigging	gig + g + ing	Lesson 107
ginning	gin + n + ing	Lesson 117
gutting	gut + t + ing	Lesson 107
hemming	hem + m + ing	Lesson 107
hopping	hop + p + ing	Lesson 107
hugging	hug + g + ing	Lesson 107
humming	hum + m + ing	Lesson 107
jabbing	jab + b + ing	Lesson 107
jetting	jet + t + ing	Lesson 107
jogging	jog + g + ing	Lesson 107
jutting	jut + t + ing	Lesson 107
lagging	lag + g + ing	Lesson 107
lapping	lap + p + ing	Lesson 107
legging	leg + g + ing	Lesson 107
lobbing	lob + b + ing	Lesson 107
lopping	lop + p + ing	Lesson 107
lugging	lug + g + ing	Lesson 107
matting	mat + t + ing	Lesson 107
mopping	mop + p + ing	Lesson 107
mugging	mug + g + ing	Lesson 107
nabbing	nab + b + ing	Lesson 107
nagging	nag + g + ing	Lesson 107
napping	nap + p + ing	Lesson 107
netting	net + t + ing	Lesson 107
nipping	nip + p + ing	Lesson 107
nodding	nod + d + ing	Lesson 107
nutting	nut + t + ing	Lesson 107
panning	pan + n + ing	Lesson 107
patting	pat + t + ing	Lesson 107
pegging	peg + g + ing	Lesson 107
penning	pen + n + ing	Lesson 107
petting	pet + t + ing	Lesson 107
pinning	pin + n + ing	Lesson 107
pitting	pit + t + ing	Lesson 107
ramming	ram + m + ing	Lesson 107
rapping	rap + p + ing	Lesson 107
ribbing	rib + b + ing	Lesson 107
rigging	rig + g + ing	Lesson 107
robbing	rob + b + ing	Lesson 107
rotting	rot + t + ing	Lesson 107
rubbing	rub + b + ing	Lesson 107
sagging	sag + g + ing	Lesson 107
sapping	sap + p + ing	Lesson 107
sinning	sin + n + ing	Lesson 107
sipping	sip + p + ing	Lesson 107
sobbing	sob + b + ing	Lesson 107
sopping	sop + p + ing	Lesson 107
subbing	sub + b + ing	Lesson 107
sunning	sun + n + ing	Lesson 107
tabbing	tab + b + ing	Lesson 107
tagging	tag + g + ing	Lesson 107
tanning	tan + n + ing	Lesson 107
tapping	tap + p + ing	Lesson 107
tipping	tip + p + ing	Lesson 107
topping	top + p + ing	Lesson 107
tugging	tug + g + ing	Lesson 107
vetting	vet + t + ing	Lesson 107
wagging	wag + g + ing	Lesson 107
webbing	web + b + ing	Lesson 107
witting	wit + t + ing	Lesson 107
zipping	zip + p + ing	Lesson 107
blotting	blot + t + ing	Lesson 107
bragging	brag + g + ing	Lesson 107
brimming	brim + m + ing	Lesson 107
chipping	chip + p + ing	Lesson 107
chugging	chug + g + ing	Lesson 107
clapping	clap + p + ing	Lesson 107
clogging	clog + g + ing	Lesson 107
clotting	clot + t + ing	Lesson 107
clubbing	club + b + ing	Lesson 107
cramming	cram + m + ing	Lesson 107
cribbing	crib + b + ing	Lesson 107
cropping	crop + p + ing	Lesson 107
drumming	drum + m + ing	Lesson 107
flapping	flap + p + ing	Lesson 107
flitting	flit + t + ing	Lesson 107
flogging	flog + g + ing	Lesson 107
flopping	flop + p + ing	Lesson 107
fretting	fret + t + ing	Lesson 107
grinning	grin + n + ing	Lesson 107
gripping	grip + p + ing	Lesson 107
gritting	grit + t + ing	Lesson 107
knitting	knit + t + ing	Lesson 107
plodding	plod + d + ing	Lesson 107
prodding	prod + d + ing	Lesson 107
propping	prop + p + ing	Lesson 107
shunning	shun + n + ing	Lesson 107
skidding	skid + d + ing	Lesson 107
skimming	skim + m + ing	Lesson 107
slamming	slam + m + ing	Lesson 107
slapping	slap + p + ing	Lesson 107
sledding	sled + d + ing	Lesson 107
slimming	slim + m + ing	Lesson 107
slogging	slog + g + ing	Lesson 107
slotting	slot + t + ing	Lesson 107
slugging	slug + g + ing	Lesson 107
snagging	snag + g + ing	Lesson 107
snapping	snap + p + ing	Lesson 107
snubbing	snub + b + ing	Lesson 107
snugging	snug + g + ing	Lesson 107
spanning	span + n + ing	Lesson 107
spinning	spin + n + ing	Lesson 107
stemming	stem + m + ing	Lesson 107
thinning	thin + n + ing	Lesson 107
trimming	trim + m + ing	Lesson 107
tripping	trip + p + ing	Lesson 107
trotting	trot + t + ing	Lesson 107
whipping	whip + p + ing	Lesson 107
scrubbing	scrub + b + ing	Lesson 107
shredding	shred + d + ing	Lesson 107
shrugging	shrug + g + ing	Lesson 107
strapping	strap + p + ing	Lesson 107
strumming	strum + m + ing	Lesson 107
strutting	strut + t + ing	Lesson 107
throbbing	throb + b + ing	Lesson 107

Doubled before -ed

173 words

Doubled before -ed
Word	Word sum	Readable after
dropped	drop + p + ed	Lesson 107
planned	plan + n + ed	Lesson 107
shopped	shop + p + ed	Lesson 107
stopped	stop + p + ed	Lesson 107
trapped	trap + p + ed	Lesson 107
fitted	fit + t + ed	Lesson 107
spotted	spot + t + ed	Lesson 107
banned	ban + n + ed	Lesson 107
bogged	bog + g + ed	Lesson 107
jammed	jam + m + ed	Lesson 107
manned	man + n + ed	Lesson 107
mapped	map + p + ed	Lesson 107
popped	pop + p + ed	Lesson 107
ripped	rip + p + ed	Lesson 107
summed	sum + m + ed	Lesson 107
chopped	chop + p + ed	Lesson 107
clipped	clip + p + ed	Lesson 107
dragged	drag + g + ed	Lesson 107
dripped	drip + p + ed	Lesson 107
flagged	flag + g + ed	Lesson 107
flipped	flip + p + ed	Lesson 107
grabbed	grab + b + ed	Lesson 107
plugged	plug + g + ed	Lesson 107
scanned	scan + n + ed	Lesson 107
shipped	ship + p + ed	Lesson 107
skipped	skip + p + ed	Lesson 107
slipped	slip + p + ed	Lesson 107
stepped	step + p + ed	Lesson 107
stunned	stun + n + ed	Lesson 107
swapped	swap + p + ed	Lesson 107
wrapped	wrap + p + ed	Lesson 107
scrapped	scrap + p + ed	Lesson 107
stripped	strip + p + ed	Lesson 107
dotted	dot + t + ed	Lesson 107
kidded	kid + d + ed	Lesson 107
padded	pad + d + ed	Lesson 107
wedded	wed + d + ed	Lesson 107
chatted	chat + t + ed	Lesson 107
plotted	plot + t + ed	Lesson 107
upped	up + p + ed	Lesson 107
bagged	bag + g + ed	Lesson 107
begged	beg + g + ed	Lesson 107
bugged	bug + g + ed	Lesson 107
bummed	bum + m + ed	Lesson 107
canned	can + n + ed	Lesson 107
capped	cap + p + ed	Lesson 107
conned	con + n + ed	Lesson 107
copped	cop + p + ed	Lesson 107
dammed	dam + m + ed	Lesson 107
dimmed	dim + m + ed	Lesson 107
dipped	dip + p + ed	Lesson 107
dubbed	dub + b + ed	Lesson 107
fanned	fan + n + ed	Lesson 107
gagged	gag + g + ed	Lesson 107
gassed	gas + s + ed	Lesson 107
ginned	gin + n + ed	Lesson 117
gummed	gum + m + ed	Lesson 107
hemmed	hem + m + ed	Lesson 107
hopped	hop + p + ed	Lesson 107
hugged	hug + g + ed	Lesson 107
jabbed	jab + b + ed	Lesson 107
jogged	jog + g + ed	Lesson 107
lagged	lag + g + ed	Lesson 107
lapped	lap + p + ed	Lesson 107
lobbed	lob + b + ed	Lesson 107
lopped	lop + p + ed	Lesson 107
mobbed	mob + b + ed	Lesson 107
mopped	mop + p + ed	Lesson 107
mugged	mug + g + ed	Lesson 107
nabbed	nab + b + ed	Lesson 107
nagged	nag + g + ed	Lesson 107
napped	nap + p + ed	Lesson 107
nipped	nip + p + ed	Lesson 107
panned	pan + n + ed	Lesson 107
pegged	peg + g + ed	Lesson 107
penned	pen + n + ed	Lesson 107
pinned	pin + n + ed	Lesson 107
rammed	ram + m + ed	Lesson 107
rapped	rap + p + ed	Lesson 107
ribbed	rib + b + ed	Lesson 107
rigged	rig + g + ed	Lesson 107
rimmed	rim + m + ed	Lesson 107
robbed	rob + b + ed	Lesson 107
rubbed	rub + b + ed	Lesson 107
sagged	sag + g + ed	Lesson 107
sapped	sap + p + ed	Lesson 107
sinned	sin + n + ed	Lesson 107
sipped	sip + p + ed	Lesson 107
sobbed	sob + b + ed	Lesson 107
subbed	sub + b + ed	Lesson 107
tagged	tag + g + ed	Lesson 107
tanned	tan + n + ed	Lesson 107
tapped	tap + p + ed	Lesson 107
tipped	tip + p + ed	Lesson 107
topped	top + p + ed	Lesson 107
tugged	tug + g + ed	Lesson 107
wagged	wag + g + ed	Lesson 107
webbed	web + b + ed	Lesson 107
zipped	zip + p + ed	Lesson 107
blabbed	blab + b + ed	Lesson 107
bragged	brag + g + ed	Lesson 107
brimmed	brim + m + ed	Lesson 107
chipped	chip + p + ed	Lesson 107
chugged	chug + g + ed	Lesson 107
clammed	clam + m + ed	Lesson 107
clapped	clap + p + ed	Lesson 107
clubbed	club + b + ed	Lesson 107
crabbed	crab + b + ed	Lesson 107
crammed	cram + m + ed	Lesson 107
cropped	crop + p + ed	Lesson 107
drummed	drum + m + ed	Lesson 107
flapped	flap + p + ed	Lesson 107
flopped	flop + p + ed	Lesson 107
grinned	grin + n + ed	Lesson 107
gripped	grip + p + ed	Lesson 107
plopped	plop + p + ed	Lesson 107
propped	prop + p + ed	Lesson 107
shunned	shun + n + ed	Lesson 107
skimmed	skim + m + ed	Lesson 107
skinned	skin + n + ed	Lesson 107
slammed	slam + m + ed	Lesson 107
slapped	slap + p + ed	Lesson 107
slimmed	slim + m + ed	Lesson 107
slogged	slog + g + ed	Lesson 107
slugged	slug + g + ed	Lesson 107
snagged	snag + g + ed	Lesson 107
snapped	snap + p + ed	Lesson 107
snubbed	snub + b + ed	Lesson 107
spanned	span + n + ed	Lesson 107
stemmed	stem + m + ed	Lesson 107
stubbed	stub + b + ed	Lesson 107
thinned	thin + n + ed	Lesson 107
trimmed	trim + m + ed	Lesson 107
tripped	trip + p + ed	Lesson 107
twigged	twig + g + ed	Lesson 107
whipped	whip + p + ed	Lesson 107
scrubbed	scrub + b + ed	Lesson 107
shrugged	shrug + g + ed	Lesson 107
strapped	strap + p + ed	Lesson 107
batted	bat + t + ed	Lesson 107
bedded	bed + d + ed	Lesson 107
gutted	gut + t + ed	Lesson 107
jetted	jet + t + ed	Lesson 107
jotted	jot + t + ed	Lesson 107
legged	leg + g + ed	Lesson 107
netted	net + t + ed	Lesson 107
nodded	nod + d + ed	Lesson 107
patted	pat + t + ed	Lesson 107
petted	pet + t + ed	Lesson 107
pitted	pit + t + ed	Lesson 107
potted	pot + t + ed	Lesson 107
ragged	rag + g + ed	Lesson 107
rotted	rot + t + ed	Lesson 107
rugged	rug + g + ed	Lesson 107
rutted	rut + t + ed	Lesson 107
vatted	vat + t + ed	Lesson 107
vetted	vet + t + ed	Lesson 107
wadded	wad + d + ed	Lesson 107
blotted	blot + t + ed	Lesson 107
clotted	clot + t + ed	Lesson 107
fretted	fret + t + ed	Lesson 107
glutted	glut + t + ed	Lesson 107
knitted	knit + t + ed	Lesson 107
knotted	knot + t + ed	Lesson 107
plodded	plod + d + ed	Lesson 107
prodded	prod + d + ed	Lesson 107
skidded	skid + d + ed	Lesson 107
slotted	slot + t + ed	Lesson 107
studded	stud + d + ed	Lesson 107
swatted	swat + t + ed	Lesson 107
trotted	trot + t + ed	Lesson 107
whetted	whet + t + ed	Lesson 107
shredded	shred + d + ed	Lesson 107

Doubled before -er and -est

65 words

Doubled before -er and -est
Word	Word sum	Readable after
better	bet + t + er	Lesson 80
bigger	big + g + er	Lesson 80
dinner	din + n + er	Lesson 80
letter	let + t + er	Lesson 80
rubber	rub + b + er	Lesson 80
biggest	big + g + est	Lesson 67b
butter	but + t + er	Lesson 80
hammer	ham + m + er	Lesson 80
litter	lit + t + er	Lesson 80
winner	win + n + er	Lesson 80
plotter	plot + t + er	Lesson 80
scanner	scan + n + er	Lesson 80
wrapper	wrap + p + er	Lesson 98
cutter	cut + t + er	Lesson 80
dimmer	dim + m + er	Lesson 80
fatter	fat + t + er	Lesson 80
fitter	fit + t + er	Lesson 80
hipper	hip + p + er	Lesson 80
hopper	hop + p + er	Lesson 80
hotter	hot + t + er	Lesson 80
jogger	jog + g + er	Lesson 80
madder	mad + d + er	Lesson 80
mugger	mug + g + er	Lesson 80
potter	pot + t + er	Lesson 80
redder	red + d + er	Lesson 80
robber	rob + b + er	Lesson 80
runner	run + n + er	Lesson 80
sadder	sad + d + er	Lesson 80
sinner	sin + n + er	Lesson 80
sitter	sit + t + er	Lesson 80
tanner	tan + n + er	Lesson 80
wetter	wet + t + er	Lesson 80
zipper	zip + p + er	Lesson 80
blotter	blot + t + er	Lesson 80
chatter	chat + t + er	Lesson 80
chipper	chip + p + er	Lesson 80
chopper	chop + p + er	Lesson 80
clapper	clap + p + er	Lesson 80
drummer	drum + m + er	Lesson 80
fattest	fat + t + est	Lesson 67b
fittest	fit + t + est	Lesson 67b
flatter	flat + t + er	Lesson 80
flipper	flip + p + er	Lesson 80
funnest	fun + n + est	Lesson 67b
glummer	glum + m + er	Lesson 80
grabber	grab + b + er	Lesson 80
grimmer	grim + m + er	Lesson 80
hippest	hip + p + est	Lesson 67b
hottest	hot + t + est	Lesson 67b
planner	plan + n + er	Lesson 80
primmer	prim + m + er	Lesson 80
reddest	red + d + est	Lesson 67b
saddest	sad + d + est	Lesson 67b
shopper	shop + p + er	Lesson 80
skipper	skip + p + er	Lesson 80
slimmer	slim + m + er	Lesson 80
stopper	stop + p + er	Lesson 80
tannest	tan + n + est	Lesson 67b
thinner	thin + n + er	Lesson 80
trapper	trap + p + er	Lesson 80
trimmer	trim + m + er	Lesson 80
wettest	wet + t + est	Lesson 67b
grimmest	grim + m + est	Lesson 67b
slimmest	slim + m + est	Lesson 67b
thinnest	thin + n + est	Lesson 67b

Doubled before -y

35 words

Doubled before -y
Word	Word sum	Readable after
funny	fun + n + y	Lesson 74
penny	pen + n + y	Lesson 74
petty	pet + t + y	Lesson 74
sunny	sun + n + y	Lesson 74
witty	wit + t + y	Lesson 74
floppy	flop + p + y	Lesson 74
sloppy	slop + p + y	Lesson 74
baggy	bag + g + y	Lesson 74
buggy	bug + g + y	Lesson 74
canny	can + n + y	Lesson 74
daddy	dad + d + y	Lesson 74
fatty	fat + t + y	Lesson 74
foggy	fog + g + y	Lesson 74
jetty	jet + t + y	Lesson 74
kitty	kit + t + y	Lesson 74
muddy	mud + d + y	Lesson 74
muggy	mug + g + y	Lesson 74
nutty	nut + t + y	Lesson 74
paddy	pad + d + y	Lesson 74
puppy	pup + p + y	Lesson 74
ratty	rat + t + y	Lesson 74
runny	run + n + y	Lesson 74
tinny	tin + n + y	Lesson 74
chatty	chat + t + y	Lesson 74
choppy	chop + p + y	Lesson 74
chummy	chum + m + y	Lesson 74
crabby	crab + b + y	Lesson 74
craggy	crag + g + y	Lesson 74
gritty	grit + t + y	Lesson 74
grubby	grub + b + y	Lesson 74
knotty	knot + t + y	Lesson 98
skinny	skin + n + y	Lesson 74
snappy	snap + p + y	Lesson 74
spotty	spot + t + y	Lesson 74
stubby	stub + b + y	Lesson 74

No doubling: the suffix starts with a consonant

28 words

No doubling: the suffix starts with a consonant
Word	Word sum	Readable after
badly	bad + ly	Lesson 74
sadly	sad + ly	Lesson 74
gladly	glad + ly	Lesson 74
sinful	sin + ful	Lesson 67b
madness	mad + ness	Lesson 67b
dimly	dim + ly	Lesson 74
godly	god + ly	Lesson 74
hotly	hot + ly	Lesson 74
madly	mad + ly	Lesson 74
manly	man + ly	Lesson 74
fitful	fit + ful	Lesson 67b
flatly	flat + ly	Lesson 74
glibly	glib + ly	Lesson 74
grimly	grim + ly	Lesson 74
primly	prim + ly	Lesson 74
smugly	smug + ly	Lesson 74
snugly	snug + ly	Lesson 74
thinly	thin + ly	Lesson 74
badness	bad + ness	Lesson 67b
fitness	fit + ness	Lesson 67b
fretful	fret + ful	Lesson 67b
godless	god + less	Lesson 67b
pigment	pig + ment	Lesson 67b
sadness	sad + ness	Lesson 67b
witless	wit + less	Lesson 67b
flatness	flat + ness	Lesson 67b
shipment	ship + ment	Lesson 67b
spotless	spot + less	Lesson 67b

No doubling: the base ends in w, x or y

137 words

No doubling: the base ends in w, x or y
Word	Word sum	Readable after
fixed	fix + ed	Lesson 64
mixed	mix + ed	Lesson 64
played	play + ed	Lesson 84
showed	show + ed	Lesson 86
stayed	stay + ed	Lesson 84
fewer	few + er	Lesson 115
lower	low + er	Lesson 86
fewest	few + est	Lesson 115
fixing	fix + ing	Lesson 65
lowest	low + est	Lesson 86
mixing	mix + ing	Lesson 65
paying	pay + ing	Lesson 84
saying	say + ing	Lesson 84
slower	slow + er	Lesson 86
drawing	draw + ing	Lesson 93
growing	grow + ing	Lesson 86
knowing	know + ing	Lesson 98
playing	play + ing	Lesson 84
showing	show + ing	Lesson 86
slowest	slow + est	Lesson 86
staying	stay + ing	Lesson 84
throwing	throw + ing	Lesson 86
flexible	flex + ible	Lesson 75
keyed	key + ed	Lesson 85
chewed	chew + ed	Lesson 91
flawed	flaw + ed	Lesson 93
flowed	flow + ed	Lesson 86
glowed	glow + ed	Lesson 86
prayed	pray + ed	Lesson 84
slowed	slow + ed	Lesson 86
viewed	view + ed	not taught
screwed	screw + ed	Lesson 91
layer	lay + er	Lesson 84
mayor	may + or	Lesson 111
newer	new + er	Lesson 91
keying	key + ing	Lesson 85
laying	lay + ing	Lesson 84
newest	new + est	Lesson 91
player	play + er	Lesson 84
prayer	pray + er	Lesson 84
viewer	view + er	not taught
blowing	blow + ing	Lesson 86
chewing	chew + ing	Lesson 91
flowing	flow + ing	Lesson 86
glowing	glow + ing	Lesson 86
praying	pray + ing	Lesson 84
slowing	slow + ing	Lesson 86
viewing	view + ing	not taught
screwing	screw + ing	Lesson 91
bayed	bay + ed	Lesson 84
bowed	bow + ed	Lesson 96
boxed	box + ed	Lesson 64
cowed	cow + ed	Lesson 96
jawed	jaw + ed	Lesson 93
mowed	mow + ed	Lesson 86
pawed	paw + ed	Lesson 93
rowed	row + ed	Lesson 86
sawed	saw + ed	Lesson 93
sowed	sow + ed	Lesson 96
taxed	tax + ed	Lesson 64
towed	tow + ed	Lesson 86
toyed	toy + ed	Lesson 95
vexed	vex + ed	Lesson 64
vowed	vow + ed	Lesson 96
waxed	wax + ed	Lesson 64
wowed	wow + ed	Lesson 96
brewed	brew + ed	Lesson 91
clawed	claw + ed	Lesson 93
coaxed	coax + ed	Lesson 86
crowed	crow + ed	Lesson 86
flexed	flex + ed	Lesson 64
frayed	fray + ed	Lesson 84
gnawed	gnaw + ed	Lesson 118
preyed	prey + ed	Lesson 114
skewed	skew + ed	Lesson 115
snowed	snow + ed	Lesson 86
spayed	spay + ed	Lesson 84
spewed	spew + ed	Lesson 115
stewed	stew + ed	Lesson 91
stowed	stow + ed	Lesson 86
swayed	sway + ed	Lesson 84
thawed	thaw + ed	Lesson 93
sprayed	spray + ed	Lesson 84
strayed	stray + ed	Lesson 84
foxy	fox + y	Lesson 74
waxy	wax + y	Lesson 74
boxer	box + er	Lesson 80
chewy	chew + y	Lesson 91
cower	cow + er	Lesson 96
coyer	coy + er	Lesson 95
mixer	mix + er	Lesson 80
mower	mow + er	Lesson 86
payer	pay + er	Lesson 84
showy	show + y	Lesson 86
snowy	snow + y	Lesson 86
baying	bay + ing	Lesson 84
bowing	bow + ing	Lesson 96
boxing	box + ing	Lesson 65
boyish	boy + ish	Lesson 95
cowing	cow + ing	Lesson 96
grower	grow + er	Lesson 86
haying	hay + ing	Lesson 84
hewing	hew + ing	Lesson 115
joying	joy + ing	Lesson 95
lowing	low + ing	Lesson 86
pawing	paw + ing	Lesson 93
rawest	raw + est	not taught
rowing	row + ing	Lesson 86
sawing	saw + ing	Lesson 93
screwy	screw + y	Lesson 91
skewer	skew + er	Lesson 115
taxing	tax + ing	Lesson 65
towing	tow + ing	Lesson 86
toying	toy + ing	Lesson 95
vexing	vex + ing	Lesson 65
vowing	vow + ing	Lesson 96
waxing	wax + ing	Lesson 65
wowing	wow + ing	Lesson 96
brewing	brew + ing	Lesson 91
clawing	claw + ing	Lesson 93
coaxing	coax + ing	Lesson 86
crowing	crow + ing	Lesson 86
flexing	flex + ing	Lesson 65
fraying	fray + ing	Lesson 84
gnawing	gnaw + ing	Lesson 118
preying	prey + ing	Lesson 114
skewing	skew + ing	Lesson 115
snowing	snow + ing	Lesson 86
spewing	spew + ing	Lesson 115
stewing	stew + ing	Lesson 91
swaying	sway + ing	Lesson 84
thawing	thaw + ing	Lesson 93
spraying	spray + ing	Lesson 84
straying	stray + ing	Lesson 84
fixable	fix + able	Lesson 75
payable	pay + able	Lesson 84
taxable	tax + able	Lesson 75

Words that break the rule

None. No public word in our lexicon breaks this pattern.

How do you teach it?

Teach the rule once students read words with -ing and -ed without help. Draw three columns on the board: one syllable, one vowel, one consonant. Students tick each column for a base word, then look at the first letter of the suffix. Every word gets the same four checks, out loud, until the checks run on their own.

"Our word is 'swim' and we're adding -ing. One syllable? Yes. One vowel? i, yes. One consonant at the end? m, yes. Does -ing start with a vowel? Yes. Four yeses, so we double: s-w-i-m-m-i-n-g. Now 'sad' plus -ness. -ness starts with a consonant. No doubling: sadness."

What is the common error, and the fix?

The classic errors are "hoping" for hopping and "jumpping" for jumping. The first ignores the rule; the second applies it to a word with two final consonants. A third shows up with x and w: "boxxing", "snowwing". The fix is the count. Point to the last consonant and ask whether it is one consonant letter after one vowel letter. Then explain that x already spells two sounds, and that w and y at the end of a word are part of the vowel.

Sort it: a hands-on activity

Hand out base word cards with a suffix clipped to each (shop + ing, jump + ed, sad + ness, box + er, thin + est). Students sort into "double" and "just add" and write the new word. Every card in "just add" needs its reason written on it: two consonants, two vowels, a consonant suffix, or w, x or y.

How this list was built

Every word comes from our lexicon of about 19,000 common words, each checked against a pronouncing dictionary and split into spelling units. Words a student meets in our assessments and progress-monitoring probes are left out, so practicing a list never rehearses a test. Rule groups are computed from each word's spelling units and its word sum (base plus suffix), then checked by hand; false word sums such as man + er for manner are removed.

"Readable after" is the first lesson in the lesson sequence at which our decodability engine finds every sound-spelling in the word taught; "not taught" means the word has a spelling the sequence does not cover, so it is read with help. You can check your own lists and passages with the free decodable text checker.

Questions people ask

What is the 1-1-1 rule?

It is another name for the doubling rule: one syllable, one vowel, one consonant at the end. When all three are true and the suffix starts with a vowel, double the final consonant.

Why don't you double x, w or y?

X spells two sounds, /k/ and /s/, so the syllable is already closed. W and y at the end of a word are part of the vowel (snow, play). Our list has 137 words like fixed, mixed, played that just add the suffix.

Does the doubling rule work for two-syllable words?

Yes, when the last syllable is stressed: begin becomes beginning. When the first syllable is stressed, just add the suffix: visit becomes visited. That version has its own page.

Are there exceptions?

Among the one-syllable base words in our lexicon, none that pass all three checks skip the doubling. That reliability is why it is worth teaching as a rule rather than word by word.