---
title: "Spelling & Word Study"
description: "25 topics in English, in the order they build on each other."
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/areas/spelling-and-word-study
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/areas/spelling-and-word-study.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Spelling & Word Study

25 topics in English, in the order they build on each other.

Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/areas/spelling-and-word-study

- [Phonics Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/phonics-vocabulary-mt_EqXlZfB4jp): Know and use the vocabulary of phonics and word structure — phoneme, grapheme, GPC (grapheme-phoneme correspondence), blend, segment, digraph, CVC, vowel, consonant, syllable, root word, suffix, prefix, and homophone — and understand that these words describe the building blocks that phonics instruction is built on
- [Segmenting words into sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/segmenting-words-into-sounds-mt_BhYJZUsErp): Segment spoken words into phonemes and spell CVC and simple phonetically regular words by writing a letter or letters for each sound
- [Spelling Simple Suffixes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-simple-suffixes-mt_QdMMLRYWhn): Spell words with common suffixes (-s/-es for plurals and third person verbs, -ing, -ed, -er, -est) where no change to the root word is needed
- [The Prefix un-](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/the-prefix-un-mt_zBUcAPDRPM): Spell words using the prefix un- to change meaning; understand that un- creates opposites or reverses actions
- [Tricky words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/tricky-words-mt_Jq0MjURrRC): Spell common exception words from memory that do not follow regular phonic patterns, including the days of the week
- [Alternative Spellings for Sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-sounds-mt_p_jxNLdus4): Spell words using alternative grapheme choices for known phonemes, learning new spellings for sounds already encountered (e.g., /ɔ:/ as 'a' before ll, /ʌ/ as 'o', words ending -tion), including distinguishing common homophones
- [Spelling Contracted Forms](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-contracted-forms-mt_IntmJBg4VQ): Spell contracted forms correctly by placing the apostrophe where letters are omitted (can't, didn't, I'll, it's, etc.)
- [Suffixes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-mt_FYK8m6eHQm): Apply suffix spelling rules that require changes to the root word: dropping final -e before vowel suffixes, changing -y to -i, doubling final consonants in short-vowel words; use suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less, -ly
- [Homophones](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/homophones-mt_37QCuGOxFe): Distinguish and correctly spell common homophones and near-homophones encountered at Y3-4 level (e.g., accept/except, affect/effect, brake/break, grate/great), including using the /eɪ/ sound spelt ei, eigh, or ey
- [Prefixes (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/prefixes-age-7-mt_T6nrrf2K43): Spell words with a range of prefixes (dis-, mis-, un-, re-, pre-, anti-, auto-, super-) understanding how each prefix modifies the root word's meaning without changing its spelling
- [Spelling Word Lists (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-word-lists-age-7-mt_O2dS6gvClw): Spell words from the statutory word list for Years 3 and 4, including commonly misspelt words that do not follow regular patterns
- [Suffixes (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl): Spell words using productive suffixes (-ation, -ly, -ous) and less common sound-spelling correspondences (/ɪ/ as y, /ʌ/ as ou, endings sounding like /ʒə/, /tʃə/, /ʒən/, /ʃən/) introduced in the Year 3-4 programme
- [Spellings from Greek, French and Latin](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci): Spell English words with ch representing /k/ in words with Greek roots, ch representing /ʃ/ and -gue/-que in words borrowed through French, and sc representing /s/ in words with Latin in their histories
- [Advanced spelling conventions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/advanced-spelling-conventions-mt_U_HQXCnAaG): Spell words using Y5-6 conventions: doubling the final r of -fer when that syllable stays stressed, using hyphens at selected prefix joins or to clarify meaning, recognising ei for the long ee sound after c in receive and ceiling, and learning different pronunciations of ough
- [Homophones (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/homophones-age-9-mt_u3OuIXqmAo): Distinguish and correctly spell homophones and commonly confused words at Y5-6 level (e.g., affect/effect, practice/practise, advice/advise, complement/compliment, aisle/isle, led/lead), including confused words such as to/too/two and there/their/they're
- [Silent Letters in Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/silent-letters-in-words-mt_XK7NYt61cO): Spell words containing silent consonants, recognise common silent-letter patterns, and use checked word families or word histories as spelling clues
- [Spelling -able & -ible](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-able-and-ible-mt_9hBs430cU4): Spell words ending in -able/-ible and the corresponding adverb forms -ably/-ibly, applying patterns to determine which suffix to use based on the root word
- [Spelling Word Lists (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-word-lists-age-9-mt_sJyZW4qYUG): Learn spellings from the statutory Years 5 and 6 word list using sound patterns, checked letter groups and memory clues, and check these words in writing
- [Suffixes (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-9-mt_2X9Cd38eSJ): Spell words with Latin and French suffix patterns: endings sounding like /ʃəs/ spelt -cious or -tious (e.g., precious, cautious), /ʃəl/ spelt -cial or -tial (e.g., official, essential), and words ending in -ant/-ance/-ancy vs -ent/-ence/-ency (e.g., observant/observance, confident/confidence)
- [Apostrophes for possession](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-mt_Z3G_97fnha): Use the possessive apostrophe with singular nouns to show ownership (e.g., the girl's book, the dog's bone)
- [Spelling from Dictation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-from-dictation-mt_AhfyJoTQtY): Write simple sentences from memory when dictated by the teacher, applying taught GPCs, spelling rules, and common exception words
- [Apostrophes for possession (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-age-7-mt_HdI1y5KsBl): Use the possessive apostrophe accurately with both regular and irregular plural nouns (e.g., the girls' bags, the children's toys), distinguishing singular from plural possession
- [Using a Dictionary to Check Spellings](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/using-a-dictionary-to-check-spellings-mt_6W5zzDIGZH): Use the first two or three letters of a word to check its spelling in a dictionary; consult reference materials including beginning dictionaries to verify and correct spellings
- [Applying Spelling Rules to Complex Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/applying-spelling-rules-to-complex-words-mt_4PA9IrxtCQ): Spell correctly and consistently, applying the spelling patterns and rules from KS1-2 to increasingly complex vocabulary encountered in KS3 reading and subject-specific study
- [Proofreading Under Time Pressure](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/proofreading-under-time-pressure-mt_F3XNYambhL): Find your own errors in the minutes left at the end, not the ones a reader would find in a week. Know which mistakes you personally make, look for those first, and read in the way that exposes them rather than in the way that reads smoothly past them.