Spelling rule
ough, augh, eigh and ear
These groups of letters say different sounds in different words. Sorting the words by the sound they make turns a jumble into a few small families.
How it works
- 1
ough
Says 'or' in thought and bought, 'oo' in through, 'oh' in though and although, 'uff' in enough and tough, and 'uh' in thorough.
- thought
- through
- though
- although
- enough
- thorough
- 2
augh says 'or'
- caught
- naughty
- taught
- daughter
- 3
eigh says 'ay'; igh says 'eye'
- eight
- eighth
- weight
- neighbour
- height
- lightning
- bright
- 4
aigh says 'ay'
- straight
- 5
ear says 'er' in some words and 'ar' in heart
- early
- earth
- heard
- learn
- heart
Watch out
- lightning (in a storm) has no e; lightening means making something lighter.
- thorough (careful, complete) and through (in one side and out of the other) are different words.
- height is spelt with eigh even though it says 'eye'.
Memory trick
You hear with your ear, so heard has ear in it.
Words to practise
Years 3 and 4 statutory words
- thought
- through
- though
- although
- enough
- caught
- naughty
- eight
- eighth
- weight
- height
- straight
- early
- earth
- heard
- heart
- learn
Years 5 and 6 statutory words
- thorough
- lightning
- neighbour
Practise a few minutes a day
The daily spelling workout brings back the words your child finds tricky, and shows you which rules they need to revisit.