Topic E · Spelling
Master the spelling rules in 30 seconds a question
In the real Stage 1 paper, spelling questions are multiple-choice: you spot the one wrong (or one right) word out of five. You don't need to write — you need to recognise. Learn these patterns and you'll answer fast and confidently.
Rule 1 Doubling the final consonant
Double the final consonant before a vowel suffix (-ed, -ing, -er, -est) when the word is one syllable, ending in one vowel + one consonant.
hop → hopping · big → bigger · run → running ✓
For two-syllable words, double only if the stress is on the last syllable.
begin → beginning ✓ · open → opening (stress on first) ✗ no double
Rule 2 Dropping the silent 'e'
Drop the final silent e before a suffix that starts with a vowel; keep it before a suffix starting with a consonant.
hope → hoping · make → making · care → caring ✓
hope → hopeful · care → careful (consonant suffix — keep the e) ✓
Keep the e after a soft c or g before -ous/-able: courageous, noticeable.
Rule 3 Changing 'y' to 'i'
If a word ends in a consonant + y, change y → i before a suffix (but keep y before -ing).
happy → happily · carry → carried · baby → babies ✓
carry → carrying (keep y before -ing) ✓
If it ends in a vowel + y, just add the suffix: play → played, key → keys.
Rule 4 "i before e except after c"
Use ie normally, but ei after the letter c — when the sound is "ee".
believe, field, piece · after c: receive, ceiling, deceive ✓
Watch the exceptions: their, weird, seize, protein, science.
Rule 5 Plurals & -es
Add -es after s, x, z, ch, sh. For consonant + y, change to -ies.
box → boxes · bus → buses · watch → watches · lady → ladies ✓
The 30-second method
How to crack any spelling MCQ fast
- Read all five options first — the odd one out usually "looks wrong".
- Find the suffix. Ask: vowel suffix or consonant suffix? That decides doubling & the silent e.
- Spot the root. Strip the ending back to the base word, then re-apply the rule mentally.
- Whisper it. Say the word — does the doubled letter match the short vowel sound?
- Eliminate, don't agonise. Cross off the two you're sure are fine, then decide between the rest.
10 worked examples
Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.
1. Which is correct: hoping / hopeing / hopping (to wish)?
hoping — drop the silent e before -ing (Rule 2). "hopping" means jumping.
2. Add -ing to begin.
beginning — two syllables, stress on the last, so double the n (Rule 1).
3. Add -ed to carry.
carried — consonant + y, so y → i before -ed (Rule 3).
4. Plural of baby?
babies — consonant + y becomes -ies (Rule 3 & 5).
5. ie or ei: rec__ve?
receive — ei after c when the sound is "ee" (Rule 4).
6. Add -ful to hope.
hopeful — -ful starts with a consonant, so keep the e (Rule 2).
7. Add -ing to open.
opening — two syllables, stress on the first, so do NOT double (Rule 1).
8. Plural of watch?
watches — ends in -ch, so add -es (Rule 5).
9. Add -ly to happy.
happily — consonant + y becomes -i before -ly (Rule 3).
10. Add -able to notice.
noticeable — keep the e after soft c to keep the soft sound (Rule 2 exception).