Vocabulary and Spelling in Writing
Section: Writing | Syllabus: Cambridge Primary English First Language (0058)
Spelling Rules and Representing Sounds
- The same sound can be spelled in different ways:
- The /k/ sound: -ck, -k, -ke, -que or -ch (back, bake, kick, unique, chemist)
- The /tʃ/ sound: -ch or -tch (bench, catch)
- The /dʒ/ sound: j-, g-, or -dge (jump, giant, bridge)
- General spelling rules and exceptions:
- i before e except after c (believe, receive)
- Drop the e before -ing (hope → hoping)
- Double the consonant after a short vowel (run → running)
- Change y to i before adding -es or -ed (carry → carried)
Suffixes, Prefixes and Similar-Sounding Endings
- Some suffixes sound alike but are spelled differently, and must be learned by sight: -tion, -cian, -sion, -ssion and -ance, -ence
- When adding a prefix or suffix to a root word, the root word sometimes changes: happy → happiness (y to i), hope → hoping (drop the e)
- Prefixes and suffixes can transform meaning:
- un- means "not" (unhappy)
- re- means "again" (rewrite)
- -ful means "full of" (helpful)
- -less means "without" (careless)
Question: Form nouns from "confess", "magic" and "act" using -sion, -cian or -tion. Then form the -ing form of "hope" and the -ness form of "happy", applying the correct root-word change.
"confess" + suffix → confession (-sion) "magic" + suffix → magician (-cian) "act" + suffix → action (-tion) "hope" drops its silent e before -ing: hoping. "happy" changes y to i before -ness: happiness. Answerconfession, magician, action, hoping, happiness - each suffix spelling must be learned by sight, since -sion, -cian and -tion all sound similar.
Spelling Homophones and Commonly Confused Words
- Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things
- aloud / allowed, past / passed, advice / advise, desert / dessert
- there / their / they're, to / too / two, your / you're, its / it's, where / wear / were
- To choose the right spelling, check what job the word is doing in the sentence
To choose the right homophone spelling, check what job the word is doing in the sentence
Worked Example: Choosing the Correct HomophoneQuestion: Choose the correct word for each gap: "I walked .................................................. (past/passed) the old house. .................................................. (Its/It's) door creaked in the wind."
"walked .................................................. the old house" needs a preposition meaning "by" - that's past (not "passed", which is a verb). ".................................................. door creaked" needs the possessive form (belonging to the house) - that's Its (not "It's", which means "it is"). Answer"I walked past the old house. Its door creaked in the wind."
Strategies, Tools and Logs for Spelling and Vocabulary
- Effective spelling strategies: break a word into syllables, look for a familiar smaller word inside it, or use a memory trick (mnemonic)
- Use paper-based and on-screen tools (a dictionary, a spellchecker) to find the correct spelling of a word when unsure
- Keep a spelling log of words you misspell, and identify which ones you need to learn
- Keep your own lists of interesting and significant words, and use dictionaries and thesauruses, to extend the range of vocabulary used in your written work
Common Mistakes
MistakeGuessing the spelling of a suffix that sounds the same as another, e.g. writing "confesion" instead of "confession"
Fixthese suffixes can't be worked out from sound alone - learn the correct spelling by sight and keep a log of ones you get wrong
MistakeGuessing a spelling instead of checking it when unsure
Fixuse a dictionary or spellchecker, and add the word to your spelling log so it's easier to remember next time
Interactive revision notes, videos and practice questions load below.