Spelling Rules That Actually Work

E12Spelling Rules

Rules that unlock a thousand words.

A handful of spelling patterns covers most KS2 errors — learn the rules, then the rebels.

Four rules that earn marks.

Drop the e: hope → hoping
make → making

Double up: run → running
swim → swimming (short vowel!)

y → ies: baby → babies
party → parties

i before e after most letters: believe, field (but: receive)

Rules first, rebels second: said, once, friend, because — learn the outlaws by heart.

Learn the 4 Rules

1Drop the silent e before -ing/-ed.

hope → hoping · smile → smiled. (Keep it before consonants: hopeful.)

hope → hoping

2Double after a short vowel.

run → running, sit → sitting — the double keeps the vowel short. (Compare: hoping/hopping!)

run → running

3Change y to ies.

Consonant before the y: baby → babies. Vowel before: just add s — monkeys, days.

baby → babies

💡 Key Ideahoping vs hopping is the whole system in one pair: one p = long o (hope), double p = short o (hop).

Worked Example

Add -ing or make the plural.

write + ing

drop the e

writing

stop + ing

short vowel → double

stopping

city (plural)

consonant + y

cities

key (plural)

vowel + y

keys

Watch Out! Common Mistakes

hopeing · writeing.

Drop the e! The silent e leaves before -ing: hoping, writing.

runing · stoping.

Double up! Short vowel + one consonant doubles before -ing: running, stopping.

monkies · partys.

Check the letter before y! Vowel + y just adds s (monkeys); consonant + y changes (parties).

⬇ Cheat Sheet

SPELLING RULES

Silent e drops before -ing/-ed: hoping, smiled.
Short vowel doubles: running, sitting.
Consonant + y → ies; vowel + y → just s.
Learn the rebels by heart: said, friend, because, once.

Key pair: hoping (long o) vs hopping (short o).

📖 Continue Your Journey

✓ E1 Finding Facts (Retrieval)✓ E2 Inference ✓ E3 Vocabulary in Context ✓ E4 Writer's Word Choice ✓ E5 Summarising and Main Ideas ✓ E6 Word Classes ✓ E7 Main and Subordinate Clauses ✓ E8 Punctuation Essentials ✓ E9 Tenses and Agreement ✓ E10 Active and Passive Voice ✓ E11 Direct and Reported Speech E12 Spelling Rules E13 Homophones and Confusables E14 Synonyms, Antonyms and Shades E15 Figurative Language E16 Writing: Plan, Build, Improve

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Next Lesson: E13 Homophones and ConfusablesThey're there with their dog.

📄 Free printable: Download the Spelling Rules cheat sheet (PDF) — keep it by your child's desk.

Quick summary

Drop the silent e before -ing and -ed: hope → hoping.
Double the consonant after a short vowel: run → running.
Consonant + y becomes ies (babies); vowel + y just adds s (keys).
Rebel words follow no rule — said, friend, because, once — learn them by heart.

Frequently asked questions

Why does hopping have two p's but hoping one?

The double consonant keeps the vowel short: hopping comes from hop (short o), hoping from hope (long o). The spelling encodes the sound.

When does y change to ies?

When a consonant comes before the y: baby → babies. After a vowel, just add s: monkey → monkeys.

Is 'i before e except after c' reliable?

Partly — it works for believe and field versus receive, but has famous exceptions (weird, their). Treat it as a guide, and learn the exceptions.

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E13 Homophones and Confusables