---
title: "Alternative Spellings for Known Sounds"
description: "Recognise alternative grapheme-phoneme correspondences for known phonemes (e.g., /dʒ/ as ge/dge/g, /s/ as c, /n/ as kn/gn, /r/ as wr, /ʒ/ as s), reading words with less common spellings for familiar s"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-known-sounds-mt_OgJPbGkrYk
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-known-sounds-mt_OgJPbGkrYk.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Alternative Spellings for Known Sounds

Recognise alternative grapheme-phoneme correspondences for known phonemes (e.g., /dʒ/ as ge/dge/g, /s/ as c, /n/ as kn/gn, /r/ as wr, /ʒ/ as s), reading words with less common spellings for familiar sounds

Subject: English · Area: Phonics & Word Reading · Ages 6 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-known-sounds-mt_OgJPbGkrYk

## Ready when they can

- Read words with less common spellings for familiar sounds: 'badge', 'giraffe', 'city', 'knock', 'gnaw', 'write', 'treasure'
- Identify that the same phoneme can be represented by different graphemes (e.g., /dʒ/ spelled g, ge, dge)
- Select the correct alternative GPC to decode an unfamiliar word in context

## Lesson: Same Sound, Sneaky Spelling

You already know lots of letter sounds. But some sounds like to hide. The /j/ sound you hear in 'jump' can also be spelled g or dge, like in 'giraffe' and 'bridge'. Same sound, new spelling.

*(drawing: Jump, cage, and bridge all have the /j/ sound. Three spellings, one sound.)*

**Example.** Ben reads the word 'knock'. He sees k-n at the start, but he only hears /n/. The k stays silent. He blends the rest of the word and reads knock.

**Tip.** When a word looks strange, try the sound you already know. Watch for kn, gn, wr, dge, ge, c, and s. They can be clues for a familiar sound in a new spelling.

**Recap.** The same sound can wear different spellings, so try what you know and check if the word makes sense.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Blending Sounds to Read Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/blending-sounds-to-read-words-mt__KHQttMde3)
- [Consonant Digraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/consonant-digraphs-mt_9-OHslmt1g)
- [R-Controlled Vowel Sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/r-controlled-vowel-sounds-mt_a6m7PqTuJN)
- [Split Digraphs and Magic E](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/split-digraphs-and-magic-e-mt_C7abt7pRr6)
- [Diphthongs and complex vowels](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/diphthongs-and-complex-vowels-mt_fMd7v87IiI)
- [Trigraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/trigraphs-mt_roAgL1rQRF)

## Opens up

- [Sound and Spelling in a New Language](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/sound-and-spelling-in-a-new-language-mt_aLRdIL4V2_)
- [Syllables (age 6+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/syllables-age-6-mt_kVzAFMuFc4)
- [Alternative Spellings for Sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-sounds-mt_p_jxNLdus4)
- [Reading with Expression and Accuracy](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/reading-with-expression-and-accuracy-mt_V-ldQp56bF)