Advanced Spelling Conventions
Spell words using assorted Y5-6 conventions: doubling after -fer when the stress remains (referring but reference), using hyphens to join prefixes to root words (co-ordinate, re-enter), the /iː/ sound spelt ei after c (receive, ceiling), and the letter string ough representing different sounds (though, through, thought, thorough, plough)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Apply the -fer doubling rule: double the r when the syllable is stressed (referring, preferred, transferred) but not when stress shifts (reference, preference)
- Use hyphens correctly when a prefix ends with the same letter the root begins with (re-enter, co-own) or to avoid ambiguity (re-cover vs recover)
- Read and spell words containing ough by recognising its multiple pronunciations: /oʊ/ (though), /uː/ (through), /ɔː/ (thought), /ʌf/ (rough), /aʊ/ (plough)
The lesson
You already know how prefixes join onto root words. Now you'll learn a few extra spelling rules for some of the trickiest words in Year 5 and 6, like referring, co-ordinate, receive, and though.
Think about referring and reference. In referring, the stress falls on "-FER", so the r doubles: re-FER-ring. In reference, the stress moves to the front, REF-erence, so the r stays single.
Add a hyphen when a prefix ends with the same letter the root starts with, like co-ordinate and re-enter. A hyphen can also stop two words looking the same but meaning different things, like re-cover (cover again) and recover (get better).
In receive and ceiling, the /iː/ sound right after the letter c is spelt ei, not ie: re-c-EI-ve, c-EI-ling.
The letters ough can sound very different: though rhymes with go, through rhymes with too, thought rhymes with taught, rough rhymes with stuff, and plough rhymes with now. Learn each word by sight.
Double after a stressed -fer, hyphenate tricky joins, spell ei after c, and learn each ough word by sight.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Nothing builds on it yet.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.