Double letters

"ck" written as "k"

At the end of a word, straight after a short vowel, the /k/ sound is spelled "ck": "back", "clock", "stick", "duck".

A double "r" in "-ference"

When the stress moves off "-fer" the "r" stays single: "reference", "preference", "transference".

One "r" where "-fer" doubles it

When the stress stays on "-fer" the "r" doubles: "referring", "referred", "preferred", "transferring".

One "l" where the stress doubles it

If the last part of the word is stressed, its last letter doubles before "-ing" or "-ed": control, "controlled"; patrol, "patrolling"; excel, "excelled".

One "n" in "beginning"

The stress is on "-gin", so the "n" doubles before "-ing" and "-er": "beginning", "beginner".

One "r" where the stress doubles it

If the last part of the word is stressed, its last letter doubles before "-ing" or "-ed": occur, "occurred"; deter, "deterred".

One "t" where the stress doubles it

If the last part of the word is stressed, its last letter doubles before "-ing", "-ed" or "-er": forget, "forgetting"; admit, "admitted".

A double "n" where the stress does not double it

If the last part of the word is not stressed, its last letter stays single: garden, "gardening"; open, "opened"; happen, "happened".

A double "r" where the stress does not double it

If the last part of the word is not stressed, its last letter stays single: offer, "offered"; enter, "entering"; wonder, "wondered".

A double "t" where the stress does not double it

If the last part of the word is not stressed, its last letter stays single: limit, "limited"; visit, "visiting"; benefit, "benefited".

Y1The /f/, /l/, /s/, /z/ and /k/ sounds spelt ff, ll, ss, zz and ck

Examples: off, hill, miss, buzz, back

Y3 / 4Adding suffixes beginning with vowel letters to words of more than one syllable

Examples: forgetting, beginning, gardening, limited, forgotten

Y5 / 6Adding suffixes beginning with vowel letters to words ending in -fer

Examples: referring, referred, reference, preferred, preference

Dictation sentences

Read each one aloud and ask your child to write it down.

1. The duck fell off the hill.
2. Miss Smith rang the bell.
3. My little rabbit likes carrots.

Quick check

Can they spell these without help?

• stuff
• spell
• grass
• neck

Keep going

• Year 1 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
• Year 3 and 4 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
• Year 5 and 6 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
• Printable spelling test sheet - for writing the words on paper
• Practise in Spelling.Live - add these words as a list, take a Skills Check, or play games built from them