Root words and word origins
The spelling comes from the word's origin rather than from how it sounds, and it shifts across a family of related words.
Example words
- act
- action
- actor
- medicine
- medical
- electric
- electricity
- electrician
- decide
- decision
- televise
- television
The rules in this pattern
Right root, wrong form
The spelling itself is a real word from the same family - the root is known, it is the ending that does not fit this sentence.
respond → response (the noun, not the verb); monotone → monotonous (the describing word)
Practise this pattern
Dictation sentences
Read each one aloud and ask your child to write it down.
- The doctor gave me some medicine for my cough.
- We had to decide, so we made a decision.
- The electrician checked the electricity.
Quick check
Can they spell these without help?
- electrician
- action
- medical
- decision
Keep going
- 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
Teaching this pattern
A short lesson idea with a starter, an activity, dictation sentences and words to check.DRAFT
Teaching guide