The note
How schools teach it now
Schools teach suffix rules: drop a final e before a suffix starting with a vowel (hope, hoping), double the last consonant after a short stressed vowel (run, running; begin, beginning), and change y to i (happy, happiness). Years 5–6 add -cious/-tious, -able/-ible and -ant/-ent.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Write base words on sticky notes (hope, swim, carry, happy, forget) and suffixes on others (-ing, -ed, -ness). Your child joins pairs and writes the new word, naming the rule: drop the e, double, or y to i. Spot the surprise: carried, but carrying.
Worked example
Which is the correct spelling when -ing is added to 'write'? (writeing, writting, writing, wrighting)
- 'write' ends in a silent e.
- Drop the e before a suffix that starts with a vowel, such as -ing.
- Only double after a short vowel sound (sit, sitting); 'write' has a long i, so no doubling.
Answer: writing
Common mistakes to watch for
- Keeping the e: 'writeing', 'hopeing'.
- Doubling after a long vowel: 'hopping' (jumping) instead of 'hoping'.
- Changing y to i before -ing: 'carriing' instead of 'carrying'.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Which rule do you think fits here? Let's test it.”
- Rather than
- “English spelling makes no sense, just memorise it.”