Easy-Spelling is spelling easy
Easy-Spelling is spelling easy
Most students struggle with spelling contracted (abbreviated) words correctly. The strange thing is that they can spell would, did, should, could and not correctly. But the apostrophe (and/or the placing of the apostrophe) gives students difficulty.
By definition, a contraction (abbreviation) is a shortened form of a group of words.
Contractions are used in both written and oral (speaking) communication. When a contraction is written in English, the omitted letters are replaced by an apostrophe.
Due to the widespread use of e-mails and SMS, contractions are used more often these days, compared with twenty or more years ago. So, understanding how and where to use them is necessary for you today.
Let's take two words that are usually contracted ─ could and not. When contracted, they become couldn’t. Look at couldn’t and see what the missing letter is: it is the o, so that is where the apostrophe is placed.
You can also think of the apostrophe as a mafia boss; he brings two mobs (words) together, rubs out one or two members (letter) and places a manager (apostrophe) in their place.
These are the most common negative contractions (abbreviations) in English;
|
is not = isn’t |
|
are not = aren’t |
|
was not = wasn’t |
|
were not = weren’t |
|
have not = haven’t |
|
had not = hadn’t |
|
will not = won’t |
|
would not = wouldn’t |
|
do not = don’t |
|
cannot = can’t |
|
could not = couldn’t |
|
should not = shouldn’t |
|
might not = mightn’t |
|
must not = mustn’t |
Example:
Emma cannot go out tonight because she is not feeling well.
Becomes;
Emma can't go out tonight because she isn't feeling well.
Copy the charts above and below (by hand) and notice the unusual usages. Also note that some are repeated for other words.
|
|
be |
will |
would |
have |
had |
|
you |
you’re = you are |
you'll = you would |
you’d = you will |
you’ve = you have |
you’d = you had |
|
I |
I’m = I am |
I’ll = I will |
Id = I would |
I’ve = I have |
I’d = I had |
|
she |
she’s = she is |
she’ll = she will |
she’d = she would |
she’s = she has |
she’d = she had |
|
he |
he’s = he is |
he’ll = he will |
he’d = he would |
he’s= he has |
he’d = he had |
|
we |
we’re= we are |
we’ll = we will |
we’d = we would |
we’ve = we have |
we’d = we had |
|
it |
It’s = it is |
It’ll = it will |
It’d = it would |
It’s = it has |
It’d = it had |
|
that |
that’s = that is |
that’ll = that will |
that’d = that would |
that’s = that has |
that’d = that had |
|
they |
they’re = they are |
they’ll = they will |
they’d = they would |
they’d = they have |
they’d = they had |
|
when |
when’s = when is |
where’ll = when will |
|
when’s = when has |
when’d = when had |
|
where |
where’s = where is |
where’ll = where will |
where’d = where would |
where’s = where has |
where’d = where had |
|
what |
what’s = what is what’re = what are |
what’ll = what will |
what’d = what would |
what’s = what has |
what’d = what had |
|
how |
how’s = how is |
how’ll = how will |
how’d = how would |
how’s = how has |
how’d = how had |
|
why |
why’s = why is |
how’ll = how will |
how’d = how would |
how’s = how has |
how’d = how had |
|
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Apostrophes are not just for contractions like 'can't' or 'won't.' They are also used to indicate possession. Learn the difference between 'its' (belonging to it) and 'it's' (short for 'it is'), and practice using apostrophes to show possession correctly, such as 'Tom's book.
Irregular verbs
Learners, especially those from non-English speaking countries get confused with regular and irregular verbs.
Verbs can describe an action in the present (I bite you) or also in the past (I bit you) or in recent past (I have bitten you).
While forming past tense and past particle forms of verbs in English, we classify them as regular and irregular verbs.
A predictable pattern is followed when we form the tenses in regular verbs; we simply add the suffixes d, ed, or ied to the present infinitive form (which is also called the "base" form).
E.g. ask (v1) ─ asked (v2)
like (v1) ─ liked (v2)
dress (v1) ─ dressed (v2)
try (v1 ─ tried (v2)
Another example;
Students ask many questions to learn better. (v1 ─ simple present tense).
Students ask many questions to learn better in the last session. (v2-simple past tense).
On the other hand, the same rule does not apply to irregular verbs.
Irregular verbs are verbs that reflect the action that happened in the past but conjunction (the change that takes place in a verb to express tense) changes the situation considerably.
They do not simply add d, ed, ied to the base word to form the simple past tense or past participle forms, unlike regular verbs.
For instance, we discussed above; regular verbs indicate simple past or past particle forms by just adding a d, ed, ied to the end (a suffix) so jump (v1) becomes jumped (v2), and have/has jumped (v3) or walk (v1) becomes walked (v2) and have/has walked (v3).
However, an Irregular verb ─ to fly a plane (v1) turns into ─ flew a plane (v2) and ─ has flown the plane (v3); or run (v1) becomes ran (v2) and run (v3).
I usually fly with Turkish Airlines. (simple Present Tense ─ V1)
I flew to Miami last week. (Simple Past Tense ─ V2)
I have flown many times in my life (Present Perfect Tense ─ V2)
.
From the list below, you can will also see that some verbs remain the same for each of the three forms, such as ─ I hit you (v1) ─ You hit me yesterday (v2) ─ I will hit you (v3).
They often hit a punching bag to relax. (Simple Past Tense ─ V1)
They hit a punching bag to relax yesterday. (Simple Past Tense ─ V2)
They have just hit s punching bag to relax. (Present Perfect Tense ─ V2)
Although many verbs can have a suffix ( d, ed, ied) at the end, you can see in the list that there are many irregular verbs. And a fun fact; even though irregular verbs only account for 3% of English language, the top 10 verbs are all irregular. In order to use them correctly, it is important to have a good understanding of these irregular verbs and their specific forms.
Note ─ A past participle (v3) is a verb form that describes a completed action and it is used in forming perfect tenses in the active voice and of all tenses in the passive voice.
V1 (base form) V2 (past simple) V3 (past participle)
|
awake |
awoke |
awoken |
|
be |
was, were |
been |
|
beat |
beat |
beaten |
|
become |
became |
become |
|
begin |
began |
begun |
|
bend |
bent |
bent |
|
bet |
bet |
bet |
|
bid |
bid |
bid |
|
bite |
bit |
bitten |
|
blow |
blew |
blown |
|
break |
broke |
broken |
|
bring |
brought |
brought |
|
broadcast |
broadcast |
broadcast |
|
build |
built |
built |
|
burn |
burned or burnt |
burned or burnt |
|
buy |
bought |
bought |
|
catch |
caught |
caught |
|
choose |
chose |
chosen |
|
come |
came |
come |
|
cost |
cost |
cost |
|
cut |
cut |
cut |
|
dig |
dug |
dug |
|
do |
did |
done |
|
draw |
drew |
dr |
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. For example, 'there,' 'their,' and 'they're' all sound alike, but they are used differently in sentences. 'There' refers to a place, 'their' shows possession, and 'they're' is short for 'they are.' Pay attention to these subtle differences to improve your spelling and avoid confusion!
Homonyms and similar words confuse even native English speakers.
First, let's learn what they mean.
Homonyms: words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Homophones: a form of homonym that also sound alike and have different meanings but have different spellings.
Heteronyms: a type of homograph that are spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different.
Some examples:
accept means to take or receive; except means not including ('He took the lot except for the eggs.')
angel is the divine; but angle is a geometry term.
bare as in exposed (naked). Bear as in 'you bear the weight', or polar bear, or 'I could not bear to be bare in front of people.'
believe means to regard something as true or believable; a belief is an opinion or a conviction as in 'I had no belief that he believed.'
(Not homonyms, just similar)
berry is a fruit and bury is putting something in the ground. Bury the treasure.
brought it along from home or bought it from the shop. (Not homonyms, just similar)
born means birth; and borne means a load was carried.
censor means to cut and edit; whilst censure is to criticise harshly.
childish, childlike. When adults are 'childish', they behave immaturely or foolishly. When they’re 'childlike', they behave with the wonder, creativity, and the innocence of a child. “Their complaints about the service sounded childish given the overcrowded conditions of the restaurant.”
complacent means smugly satisfied; whilst complaisant means deferential, willing to please.
condole means to express sympathy. Condone is to forgive or overlook.
console means to comfort, but a console is also the controlling or monitoring unit of a computer. But a consul is an official appointed by a government to represent them in a foreign country.
credible means believable or convincing; but a credulous person is one who is gullible or too ready to believe.
damn is the expletive (damn, I hurt my finger); but a dam holds water: Damn, the dam is leaking!
effect (noun) means a result (I think I'm suffering from the effects of too little sleep). Use affect (verb) as in; 'bad weather will affect the harvest.' And, further confusing it, efficacy (noun) is to gain the intended result.
fair has several meanings. For example: fair skinned, principled (fair play) or even a travelling carnival. Fare also has several meanings but usually refers to the cost of a ticket (train fare) or food (bill of fare).
flu is an illness, and is the abbreviated form for influenza. But a flue is the part of a chimney that removes smoke.
Pictures are hung. People are hanged.
inquiry is an investigation, whereas an enquiry means to ask a question or to request information.
Lead; 'lead' can mean to guide or a type of metal.
leave means to depart, but there are many leaves (plural for leaf) on a tree.
loose means detached (loose leaf folder). Lose means to misplace or be deprived of ('Don't lose that book') or losing weight.
A manor is a mansion or large estate, but manner is a person's way of being ('She had a charming manner').
ment and meant. Ment is used at the end of a word, government or disillusionment, and meant is a thought or action. "I meant to take it."
personal (adjective) means belonging to a particular person ('in his personal opinion'); and personnel (noun) are staff (people) employed by a company.
programme and program; UK spelling uses both spellings for different things;
program is for computer related contents.
programme is for itineraries or schedules that are to be followed.
quit is to give up; quite is used as in something 'quite remarkable'. quiet means with no sound. He quit being quiet, which was quite remarkable, because he was usually quite noisy.
read and read; (for the past and present); you read the book yesterday. I'm going to read the paper.
roll of paper, or bread roll. But you also have a role to play in life or in a play.
insure an article or a person. Ensure is to make sure of something. "Please ensure you deliver on time".
to and too; to do something. In addition they are coming along, too. More than enough; excessively: the old girl worries too much.
taught is about teaching (She taught French). Taut means stretched tightly (The drum skin was taut).
sent, to cause to go or to be taken somewhere. Scent as in perfume. He was sent to go and get the scent that she liked.
scare means to frighten. Scar is a permanent blemish, often on the skin. That scar of yours scares me.
stationery is material needed for writing (paper, pens, etc.) but being stationary means to stand still.
sweat is perspiration. Sweet refers to the taste of nice sugary food and drink. It's not a good idea to text your loved one and say, 'I think you are sweat'.
wares are goods, such as in a warehouse; but we wear clothes.
whether, if or not, or weather as in sun and rain. "I'm waiting to see whether the weather will be good enough".
Wind can be used as in winding up the rope, so it is a verb. Wind is also for the air that blows your nicely brushed hair. "The wind blew".
Have fun with the following (from https://plainlanguage.gov/resources/humor/why-english-is-hard-to-learn/)
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Homophones (and similar words) complicate spelling. They make it difficult to remember the correct spelling of the same sounding words.
Prefix and Suffix
Prefix (an addition at the beginning of a word) and Suffix (an addition at the end of a word).
Understanding prefixes (added at the beginning of words) and suffixes (added at the end) can help you decode and spell unfamiliar words. For example, 'un-' often means 'not' (e.g., 'unhappy'), and '-ful' means 'full of' (e.g., 'beautiful'). Learning common prefixes and suffixes will boost your spelling skills.
Prefixes and suffixes are used hundreds of times in general word-building. Suffixes and prefixes have specific spelling and specific meaning and add to the base word. That is why it is important to take the time to understand them. By quickly recognising the base word has a suffix or prefix you will improve your spelling, your reading comprehension and reading speed.
Prefixes and suffixes; break them up, pre fix and suf fix. When you fix something, you secure it. For prefixes, pre means at the start, so for Prefixes the fix is at the beginning of the word.
The assignment is complete (finished).
The assignment is incomplete (not finished). (The word complete has the prefix in)
or
I paint houses.
I am a house painter (the person who paints). (The word paint has the suffix er)
Always look for the base of a word without a prefix and or suffix, such as for the word disagree. The base word is agree, and the prefix is dis (disagree).
If you look at the word admirable, we see that the base word is admire, and the suffix is able (admirable).
By becoming aware of prefixes and suffixes as additions to base words it will be easier to decode the spelling such as – Disagree Admirable
When you add ment to the end of a base word, it creates an action to do something, such as government is where the governing body is meant to work on your behalf. Remember ment and meant above.
ure, when used at the end of a word, represents the word as a process, an act, or result, such as temperature.
For example, we use ion at the end of a word. If a base word ends in a consonant (other than I or r) it is spelled using a ion and is an action word; such as action, connection.
Suffix; ful or full. It will always end in ful – unless there is an ly, such as successfully (successful), beautifully (beautiful), thankfully (thankful).
ity is added to the end of a base word to add a condition, state, or quality, where there is a community or a type of personality (see the rest below)
Study the list below to become familiar with the various examples of prefixes and suffixes added to base words. When you Talk To Your Pencil identify the base word, find the prefix or suffix, and apply your knowledge of prefix or suffix via its sound – then you will be likely to decode the word correctly.
Patterns for Prefixes
dis a prefix that gives a negative or opposite meaning of the base word, e.g. dis-appoint.
Patterns for Suffixes
ate, a suffix used at the end of a word to complete it (delegate, degenerate, dissipate).
So, how can we determine if a suffix ends in able or ible such as flexible or
remarkable? If you take able from a word, you are left with the base word (you
sometimes need to add an e that is dropped to fulfill able). If you take
ible from a word, you do not have a complete word.
e.g. ance and ence are suffixes. By listening and Talking to your pencil you can often
distinguish the difference between an / ance / and / ence / sounds.
The suffix que is used rarely.
If you revise and practice these word lists given, they will help you remember the difference in a better way.
Lastly, a base word can have a suffix and a prefix at the same time, such as disillusionment, and disappointment. And did you notice the word prefix is a prefix with pre being the start of the word? It is a prefixing of a word!
Prefix Words
With the prefix below, it is going to be easy to pronounce first syllable sounds
(disagree, remember, prearrange, unnatural, imperfect, mislay and inactive)
|
dis |
re |
pre |
un |
|
disagree |
remember |
prearrange |
unnatural |
|
disobey |
rename |
prepaid |
unable |
|
disappear |
repaint |
precook |
uncertain |
|
dislike |
replace |
preview |
unbroken |
|
disarm |
repay |
pretest |
uncommon |
|
dishonest |
replay |
|
uncover |
|
disconnect |
rerun |
im |
uncooked |
|
disloyal |
rearm |
imperfect |
undecided |
|
disrupt |
rearrange |
impatient |
undress |
|
disorder |
rearrange |
impossible |
uneven |
|
distrust |
redo |
impolite |
unequal |
|
disown |
remount |
implore |
unfair |
|
|
rebound |
|
unexpected |
|
in |
recenter |
mis |
unfasten |
|
inactive |
refresh |
mislay |
unfamiliar |
|
incorrect |
refill |
misbehave |
unhealthy |
|
incomplete |
retried |
mislead |
unhappy |
|
indefinite |
renown |
mispronounce |
unkind |
|
dis |
regrew |
misplace |
unknown |
|
disable |
regroup |
mistreat |
unlike |
|
disown |
regrow |
misread |
unlock |
|
disappoint |
rehear |
misspell |
untried |
|
disjointed |
remade |
misuse |
unselfish |
|
disgusted |
rehire |
|
unreal |
|
disassociate |
remake |
|
|
|
disenfranchise |
reread |
|
|
|
discredited |
remarry |
|
|
|
dismember |
remove |
|
|
|
|
Suffix words |
|
|
|
able (see rule below) |
er |
en |
ful |
|
admirable |
banker |
brighten |
careful |
|
agreeable |
commander |
Note that, not always, but mostly you drop the e off the end of a word for a suffix, such as admire becomes admirable.
There are many words in the English language that used to be two words, and these are called compound words (because they compound two words into one). By understanding compound words, it will be easier to recognise and spell them.
Compound words are formed by joining two or more words together, such as 'sunset' or 'toothbrush.' Learning the rules for combining words, such as when to use hyphens or merge them, will improve your spelling accuracy with compound words
In the past, the word somehow used to be some how.
And, the word himself was him self.
When you try to spell a word, by Talking To The Pencil, you will hear some how or him self. By hearing these two words, it will be easier for you to understand spelling. After all, two simple words can make one longer word seem harder to spell.
The following is a sample list of about 100 compound words.
somehow, himself, yourself, subconscious, ourselves, afternoon, backyard, airport, another, anyway, anywhere, armchair, armpit, artwork, awestruck, bookcase, bookkeeper, bookshelf, brainstorm, brainwash, breadbasket, nevertheless (3 words), hamburger, breadcrumbs, breakdance, breakfast, counterattack, clockwise and counterclockwise (three words), countryside, courthouse, backstabbing, counterbalance, courtyard, cowboy/cowgirl, cutoff crowbar, crossword, businessman/businesswoman, bridegroom, breakneck, breakthrough, birthplace, billboard, birthrate, blockbuster, bodyguard, beehive, bedroom, bedtime, bedrock, bathroom, basketball, backache, background, backlog, aircraft, barcode, homemade, barefoot, barnyard, campfire, cardboard, craftsman butterfingers, carefree, careless, chairman/chairwoman/chairperson, checkup, childbirth, daredevil, dashboard, daydream, daylight, dishwasher, doghouse, doorbell, doorknob, doorman, doormat, downpayment, downplay, dishcloth, eggbeater, eggcup, eggroll, elsewhere, earthquake, eardrum, earphone, flagpole, flashlight, fireproof, farsighted, fatherland, fingernail, fingerprint, fallout, foresight, freeway, framework, fruitcake, grownup, guidebook, gunfire, hotcake, hotdog, hots-prings, houseboat, housebreaking, fireman, humankind, honeymoon, heartburn, heavyweight, high-rise, highschool, highway, inside, inland, itself, into, indoor, iceberg, jigsaw, kick-off, keyword, keyboard, lawsuit, lifeboat, lifeguard, lifestyle, liftoff, lighthouse, lightweight, limelight, locksmith, livestock, logjam, lookout, loudmouth, lovesick, lukewarm, lunchroom, moonstruck, motorboat, motorcycle, mousetrap, nosedive, notebook, noteworthy, nightfall, milkshake.
There are literally thousands of compound words. The ones above give you an idea of what to look out for. If you use two words instead of one, such as night fall instead of nightfall, it is not wrong, but your English writing skills will be better if you use fewer words, so understanding the concept of compound words will help you progress well.
Note: some words are compounded with a hyphen, such as non-disclosure or ill-mannered.
A plural is a word that indicates more than one. They are usually nouns. Most singular nouns are made plural by placing an s at the end of the word, for example car becomes cars or apple becomes apples. However, adding s is not the only way to make a pluralise a noun (sorry, it can get quite complex).
Most plural nouns are formed by adding 's' to the end, like 'cats' or 'dogs.' However, some nouns have irregular plurals, like 'child' becoming 'children' and 'tooth' becoming 'teeth.' Learn these irregular plurals to avoid common spelling mistakes!
Let's try to keep it simple. There are many words that reflect a grouping or a collection (where the word can be both singular and plural). This first list is one such grouping, where each word is both singular (one of) and plural (many of):
moose, data, shrimp, information, jewellery, livestock, luck, butter, love, scenery, advice, wisdom, sugar, swine, aircraft, fish, spelling, money, silence, water, help, mud, butter, insurance, knowledge, furniture, sheep, salmon, oxen (or ox), deer, series, species, people, teeth, feet, children, tuna, geese, men, stuff, women, mice.
Complexity occurs when an es is added to the end of a word to make it plural. For example, bus becomes buses; gas becomes gases; or lunch becomes lunches
.If a singular noun ends in o, add es to make it plural, e.g. tomato becomes tomatoes; potato becomes potatoes.
When a singular-noun ends in y, and if the letter before the y is a consonant sound, change the ending to ies to make it plural. E.g. puppy becomes puppies; a city becomes cities.
Remember the Activity Ending sounds /i/ or /e/, where they end in a y? Well, all those words end in ies.
There are some that do not follow this rule, so it helpful to remember them, and we should not add an s or es to the end. For instance a person becomes people; a tooth becomes teeth; a foot becomes feet; a child becomes children; a goose becomes geese; a man becomes men; a woman becomes women and a mouse becomes mice.
As mentioned above, turning a singular noun into a plural one might be difficult. Hopefully, you now have an idea of what to look out for.
i before e but not after c.
This rule was introduced into the education system about forty years ago. But when you look at the table below, you will find that sometimes the rule doesn't work.
Mnemonic
i eat pie before chocolate, that’s best. But if I receive chocolate first, that is sometimes OK. But weirdly (occasionally) i & e seize another way and become ei
i before e words e before i after c words break the rule
|
pie |
deceive |
ei no c |
|
die |
ceiling |
forfeit |
|
lie |
conceive |
albeit |
|
client |
receive |
seize |
|
quiet |
perceive |
weird |
|
anxiety |
conceit |
neighbor |
|
siesta |
receipt |
weigh |
|
serviette |
receive |
height |
|
view |
transceiver |
|
|
believe |
ceiling |
|
|
achieve |
deceit |
|
|
field |
|
|
|
grief |
|
|
|
thief |
|
ie after c |
|
piece |
|
glacier |
|
shriek |
|
fancier |
|
diesel |
|
science |
|
genie |
|
ancient |
|
alien |
|
conscience |
|
audience |
|
deficient |
|
spaniel |
|
efficient |
|
friend |
|
omniscient |
|
relief |
|
|
|
grief |
|
|
|
niece |
|
|
|
thief |
|
|
So perhaps it is better to change the rule to sometimes, i before e except after c.
Or, there are ie, ei, cei, and cie combinations. English is a strange language 
Ever wondered where words come from?
Here's a list of 10 words each that originated from different languages, along with the country they come from.
These words have made their way into the English language from those countries, enriching our vocabulary and reflecting the diversity of linguistic influences over the centuries.
Have a look. I am sure you will find them interesting.
French:
Latin:
Italian:
German:
Dutch:
Spanish:
Chinese:
Russian:
Switzerland:
Understanding the origins of words, or etymology, can provide valuable clues for spelling. For instance, knowing that 'bicycle' comes from 'bi-' (meaning two) and 'cycle' (meaning wheel) can help you spell it correctly. Exploring word origins can make spelling more fascinating and easier to remember.
Mastering the Tricky Twin Consonants: "Ph" and "F," "Ch" and "Sh," "G" and "J"
Today, we'll be exploring the world of tricky twin consonants. These are pairs of letters that might look similar but produce different sounds and have distinct spelling rules. Let's dive in and conquer these confusing consonants together!
"Ph" and "F": The silent "P" in "ph" makes the "F" sound. Examples include "phone," "phrase," and "elephant." On the other hand, "F" alone creates the "f" sound, as seen in "fish," "fun," and "friend." So, next time you encounter a word starting with "ph," remember, it's a sneaky "F" sound hiding behind that silent "P".
"Ch" and "Sh": These two sounds are quite different, but their spellings can be perplexing. "Ch" produces the "ch" sound, like in "cheese," "chocolate," and "lunch." On the contrary, "Sh" creates the "sh" sound, as in "she," "ship," and "shark." It's essential to pay attention to the context and listen carefully to how the sounds are pronounced.
"G" and "J": The letters "G" and "J" can sound quite alike, leading to spelling confusion. "G" is responsible for the "g" sound in words like "game," "green," and "big." Meanwhile, "J" creates the "j" sound found in words such as "jam," "jump," and "jungle." Don't let their similar looks deceive you; they produce distinct sounds!
To master these tricky twin consonants, try these fun tips:
Use mnemonics: Create silly sentences or phrases that include words with the tricky consonants. For example, "Freddy the fish loves to phone his friends," will remind you of "ph" and "F" sounds.
Here's a list of 20 words for each of the tricky twin consonants:
Words with "ph" and "F":
Phone
Phrase
Elephant
Dolphin
Alphabet
Physician
Graph
Trophy
Sphere
Nymph
Photocopy
Laugh
Rough
Trough
Cough
Tough
Sulfur
Golf
Photography
Philosopher
Words with "ch" and "sh"
Cheese
Chocolate
Lunch
Chill
Champion
Choice
Machine
Social
Wish
Mush
Challenge
Cash
Sharp
Shiver
Beach
Church
Chicken
Rush
Flash
Push
Words with "g" and "j":
Game
Gentle
Ginger
Giant
Giraffe
Jog
Gym
Judge
Jacket
Jewel
Jungle
Jam
Glue
Jelly
Juggle
Juice
Gaze
Groom
Giant
Gerbil
Use these word lists to practice distinguishing the sounds and spellings of the tricky twin consonants. You can create fun activities, spelling quizzes, or even make up stories using these words. The more you interact with the words, the more confident and skilled you'll become at spelling them correctly. Happy spelling!
With a bit of dedication and some spelling fun, you'll soon become a master at spelling words with these tricky twin consonants. Happy spelling!
The Magical World of Word Endings: "-tion," "-able," "-ible," "-cian," and "-cial"
Hey spellers!
Today, we're venturing into the magical realm of word endings. These little letters can transform the meaning and function of a word. Let's unravel the mystery behind "-tion," "-able," "-ible," "-cian," and "-cial" to unleash your spelling prowess.
-ible vs. -able" Words ending in '-ible' and '-able' are often tricky to spell. Remember, '-ible' is typically used when the root word is a complete word by itself (e.g., 'visible'), while '-able' is used when the root word is not a complete word (e.g., 'changeable'). Understanding this distinction will help you spell these words correctly.
"-tion": This magical ending turns verbs into nouns, often representing an action or state. For example, "celebrate" becomes "celebration," "create" turns into "creation," and "educate" transforms into "education." Notice how the "-tion" ending adds that special touch to the word.
Population
Invitation
Vacation
Celebration
Foundation
Destination
Attention
Explanation
Communication
Constitution
"-able" and "-ible": These twins may seem alike, but they possess distinct rules.
"-able" is used to create adjectives, often expressing the capability or possibility of something. For instance, "comfort" becomes "comfortable," "predict" turns into "predictable," and "enjoy" transforms into "enjoyable."
On the other hand, "-ible" also forms adjectives but is usually used when the root word ends in "ible."
Examples include "visible," "horrible," and "incredible."
Terrible
Incredible
Valuable
Edible
Sensitive
Visible
Responsible
Adorable
Convertible
Irresistible
"-cian": This ending is a magical title, indicating a person skilled in a particular profession or art. For instance, a person who practices medicine is a "physician," someone skilled in mathematics is a "mathematician," and a master of music is a "musician." Becoming a "-cian" means you're an expert in your chosen field!
Politician
Musician
Physician
Technician
Magician
Optician
Electrician
Beautician
Technician
Statistician
"-cial": Prepare to be captivated by the charm of "-cial." This word ending forms adjectives related to actions, conditions, or states. For example, "finance" becomes "financial," "substance" turns into "substantial," and "confide" transforms into "confidential." "-cial" truly adds a touch of magic to these adjectives.
Official
Artificial
Racial
Beneficial
Commercial
Crucial
Provincial
Judicial
Special
Social
To become a word endings wizard, remember these tips:
Read, read, read: The more you read, the more you'll encounter words with these spellbinding endings in their natural context.
Create word lists: Form lists of words with each of these endings to practice and memorize their spellings.
Spell-it-out game: Play spelling games with friends, taking turns to spell words with different endings. The more you practice, the better you'll become!
Now that you've unlocked the secrets behind these captivating word endings, go forth and dazzle the world with your spelling skills! Happy spelling, wizards!
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. For example, "happy" and "joyful" are synonyms because they both mean something like "feeling good."
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, "hot" and "cold" are antonyms because they mean very different things when it comes to temperature.
So, synonyms are like word buddies because they mean almost the same thing, while antonyms are like word opposites!
Word list of Synonym
These words provide a mix of adjectives, verbs, and nouns, offering students an opportunity to expand their vocabulary in various areas.
Words List of antonyms:
Most countries vary in the in terms of writing presentation.
If you do official correspondence, we suggest that you buy yourself a Style Guide for your country. For instance, you may give dates as 2026/04/01 (year/day/month), but the country you write to/for may use 04/01/2026 (day/month/year).
Across the Commonwealth countries, around 80% of the items in each Style Guide will be the same across the nations. Differences can include US, UK or even local spelling.
Basic punctuation can vary. For example, after using a colon, the first word may start with a capital letter or a lower case.
Some countries use single quotations ( ' ) to reflect direct speech, but other countries use double quotations ( " ) for direct speech.
If you need to improve your writing when communicating to people from other countries, it may be worth buying a style manual!