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Year 5 English Language AC9E5LA02

Spelling Rules

Spelling rules are consistent patterns in English that help us spell and read words more accurately and confidently.

What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

The "i before e except after c" rule helps with words like believe (ie) and receive (ei after c)

When adding -ing or -ed to words ending in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant (e.g. run → running)

Words ending in a silent e usually drop the e before adding a vowel suffix (e.g. hope → hoping)

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings (e.g. their/there/they're)

More Spelling Patterns

Once you know a pattern, you can spell dozens of words correctly — not just one. Here are three more patterns that come up all the time.

Plurals ending in -es

Most words just add -s to become plural (cat → cats). But words ending in x, s, sh, or ch add -es instead, because you need an extra syllable to say the plural out loud.

fox → foxes, bus → buses, brush → brushes, watch → watches

Prefixes don't change the root word

A prefix is added to the front of a word. Unlike suffixes, prefixes never change the spelling of the word they're attached to — you just join them straight on.

happy → unhappy, do → redo, agree → disagree

Short vowel vs long vowel before -ing

This is why some words double their last letter before -ing and others don't: it depends on whether the vowel sound is short or long.

hop (short o) → hopping  |  hope (long o, silent e) → hoping

How to Check Your Spelling

When you're not sure how to spell a word, work through it step by step instead of guessing.

A Step-by-Step Checking Method

  1. Say the word slowly, breaking it into syllables.
  2. Ask: does a spelling rule apply here (plural, prefix, suffix, silent e)?
  3. Write the word, then look at it — does it "look right" to you?
  4. Check it against a word you already know that follows the same pattern.
  5. If you're still unsure, look it up and add it to a personal tricky-words list.

Worked Examples

1

Spelling the plural of "fox"

Step 1: "Fox" ends in x.

Step 2: Words ending in x, s, sh or ch add -es, not just -s.

Answer: foxes

2

Adding the prefix "un-" to "happy"

Step 1: "Un-" is a prefix, added to the front of the word.

Step 2: Prefixes never change the spelling of the root word — just join them on directly.

Answer: unhappy (not "inhappy" or "dishappy")

3

"hop" vs "hope" before -ing

Step 1: "Hop" has a short vowel sound, so double the final consonant: hopping.

Step 2: "Hope" ends in a silent e, so drop the e before adding -ing: hoping.

Answer: Same three letters at the start, two different rules — always check the vowel sound first.

Key Vocabulary

Suffix

A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or form

Homophone

A word that sounds like another word but has a different spelling and meaning

Consonant

A letter that is not a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)

Silent e

An e at the end of a word that is not pronounced but affects the vowel sound before it

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

Which spelling is correct?

Question 2

Which word is correctly spelled when adding -ing to "sit"?

Question 3

Which homophone correctly completes the sentence: "I love ___ dog."?

Question 4

What is the correct plural of "fox"?

Question 5

Which is the correct way to add "un-" to "happy"?

Key Concepts Summary