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Using spelling rules

An illustration of a young boy drawing a y on a blackboard with chalk.

It can be tricky to learn how to spell but sometimes words will follow set spelling rules.

Remembering those rules can help you spell correctly.

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that goes on the end of a word and changes the word's meaning.

You can use the '-y' rule to help you when adding suffixes to words ending in '-y'.

When we have a word that ends in 鈥搚 and we want to add a suffix to it, we have to change the y to an -i.

Then we can add a suffix, like 鈥揺蝉迟, 鈥揺诲 or 鈥揺谤, to the end.

For example:

sunny = sunniest

carry = carrier

cry = cried

An illustration of a young boy drawing a y on a blackboard with chalk.
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How can you practise new spellings?

A technique to help you learn and practise new spellings is called 鈥楲ook, Say, Cover, Write Down, Check鈥:

  • Look at the word.

  • Say the word out loud.

  • Cover the word up so you cannot see it.

  • Write down the word how you can remember

  • Check to see if you have got it correct. If you haven鈥檛 that鈥檚 ok, check the proper spelling of the word, and then repeat the steps.

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Activity 1

Here are a selection of words ending in '鈥搚'.

Add one of the suffixes '-er', '-est' or '-ed' to the word and write down on paper a sentence that uses the new word.

try = tried

I tried really hard to remember all my lines in the school play.

1. study =

2. worry =

3. angry =

4. happy =

5. early =

6. marry =

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Activity 2

Now open the 鈥楲ook, Say, Cover, Write Down, Check鈥 worksheet.

The chart shows some commonly misspelt words that it's easy to get mixed up with.

Complete the worksheet to try to spell these words by memory.

Top tip!

Complete the process for each word one at a time. Do not cover the whole list and try to remember them all in one go!

'Look, Say, Cover, Write Down, Check' worksheet
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Activity 3

Now test yourself with this fun quiz.

You need to spot where words have been misspelt and then type that word out using the correct spelling.

Top tip!

Cover up your worksheet from Activity 2 so you're really challenging yourself.

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Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers. game

Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission!

Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers
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More on Spelling

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