Spelling rule
-cial, -tial, -cious and the 'sh' sound
In the middle of a word, the 'sh' sound is often spelt ci, ti or sci rather than sh.
How it works
- 1
-cial usually comes after a vowel, -tial after a consonant
- special
- official
- crucial
- partial
- essential
- confidential
- 2
-cious when the root ends in -ce; -tious when it ends in -tion
- grace → gracious
- space → spacious
- ambition → ambitious
- caution → cautious
- 3
ci and sci in the middle
- ancient
- sufficient
- appreciate
- conscious
- conscience
Watch out
- initial, financial and commercial break the -cial/-tial pattern.
- conscious (awake, aware) and conscience (the voice inside that tells you right from wrong) both have sci.
Memory trick
conscience = con + science: you need science to spell it.
Words to practise
Years 5 and 6 statutory words
- especially
- ancient
- sufficient
- conscious
- conscience
- appreciate
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.