Spelling Generalizations
____ usually comes before a, o, or u.
C
Example: cat, cop, cub
Use ______ usually after a short vowel in a one-syllable word, or in the middle of a multi-syllabic word.
TCH
Example: witch, kitchen
Use _____ at the beginning or middle of a word.
OI, OU, AI, AU
Example:
oil, ouch, rain, August
A basic speech sound. Breath is partly blocked when spoken.
Consonant
Example: b, t
Two or more words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings.
Homophone
Example: mail/male
____ usually comes before e and i.
K
Example: skill, desk, bunk
Use ______ at the beginning or middle of a word.
AI or OU or AU
Example: rain, ouch, August
Use ____ at the end of a word.
Ay or OY or OW
Example: play, toy, owl
Two vowel sounds that make a new sound. (The vowel sound changes from the first vowel to the second.)
Diphthong
Example: soil
A shortened way to write and say a word.
Contraction
Example: can not can't
Use ____ in a silent e syllable, after a vowel team, after a consonant, or r-controlled vowel.
K
Example: bike, peek, milk, perk
____ -most common; use at the beginning or middle of a word.
OA
Example: boat
Double f, s, l, and z after a short vowel in a one-syllable word.
The Floss Rule
Example: huff, moss, fill, buzz
Two or more letters making one sound.
Digraph
Example ch, th, sh, wh, tch
Two different words coming together to form a new word.
Compound Word
Example: sun + set = sunset
Use ____ after a short vowel in a one-syllable word.
CK
Example: clock, pick
Double f, s, l, and z after a short vowel in a one-syllable word.
The Floss Rule
Example: huff, moss, fill, buzz
What are the three vowel sounds of the letter y?
Long I, Long E, and short i
Example: cry, baby, gym
Two or more consonants together. Each consonant sound is heard.
Consonant Blend
Example: br, dr, sp, sl, mp,
Only one
Singular
Examples: paper
Use ______ at the beginning of a word, after l or n, after a vowel team, or after r-controlled vowels.
CH
Example: chin, mulch, finch, teach, search
____- least common; only in one-syllable words with three letters.
OE
Example: toe
Use _____ at the end or when followed by l, n, er, or el.
OW
Example: shower, towel
The basic form of a word. Usually needs an affix in order to create a new word.
Root
Example: act
More than one.
Plural
Example: papers