English Spelling Rules

Silent E (CVCe)

When children can read short vowel words like cat, dog, and sun, they are ready for Silent E (also called magic E).

Silent E words such as cake, bike, and home follow a special pattern. The e at the end is silent, but it changes the vowel sound. A short vowel becomes a long vowel, helping children read many new words with confidence. This pattern appears in hundreds of common words. Learning it helps children read more smoothly and accurately. When a word ends with consonant + e, the e is silent and the vowel says its name.
Examples:
cap → cape
kit → kite
hop → hope

Double Consonants
When adding -ing or -ed, a final consonant is often doubled after a short vowel.
Examples:
run → running
sit → sitting
hop → hopped

Digraphs (sh / ch / th / wh / ph)

Digraphs are two letters that make one sound.
Examples:
ship (sh)
chair (ch)
think (th)
when (wh)
phone (ph)

Vowel Teams (ai / ay)

Vowel teams work together to make a long vowel sound.

Examples:
rain (ai)
play (ay)

Vowel Teams (ee / ea)

These vowel teams often make a long e sound.

Examples:
see (ee)
eat (ea)

R-Controlled Vowels (ar / or)

When a vowel is followed by r, the vowel sound changes.

Examples:
car (ar)
fork (or)

R-Controlled Vowels (er / ir / ur)

These letter combinations usually sound very similar.

Examples:
her (er)
bird (ir)
turn (ur)

Diphthongs (oi / oy)

Diphthongs are vowel combinations where the sound glides.

Examples:
coin (oi)
boy (oy)

Diphthongs (ou / ow)

These diphthongs often make an /ou/ sound.

Examples:
out (ou)
cow (ow)

Suffix -ed / -ing (drop e, double, just add)

When adding -ed or -ing, spelling can change in three ways:

• Drop the e: make → making

• Double the consonant: run → running

• Just add: play → played

Plurals (s / es / y → ies)

Plural endings depend on how the word ends.

Examples:
cat → cats
box → boxes
baby → babies

Prefixes (un-, re-, pre-, dis-)

Prefixes are added to the beginning of words to change meaning.

Examples:
happy → unhappy
write → rewrite
agree → disagree

Suffixes (-er / -est)

These suffixes compare things.

Examples:
tall → taller → tallest
fast → faster → fastest

Silent Letters (kn / gn / wr / mb / lk)

Some English words contain letters that are not pronounced.

Examples:
knock (k silent)
write (w silent)
lamb (b silent)
walk (l silent)

Consonant Blends (bl / cl / fl / gl / pl / sl / st / sp / sk)

Consonant blends are groups of consonants where each sound is heard.

Examples:
blue (bl)
star (st)
skip (sk)

Open vs. Closed Syllables (CV vs. CVC)

• Open syllable: ends with a vowel, usually long sound

• Closed syllable: ends with a consonant, usually short sound

Examples:
me (open)
cat (closed)