Spelling Rules and Tricks

Final Consonant:  When to Double It

This Week in Core


Rule #1: the one-one pattern

When a one-syllable word
ends in one vowel
followed by one consonant,
double the consonant
before adding a suffix.
hop hopping
whip whipped

 

Rule #2

The same rule holds for multi-syllable words,
but only if the final syllable is accented.
begin beginning
control controller

 

Rule #3: the two-one pattern

However, if there are two vowels before the final consonant,
leave the consonant as it is, and just add the suffix.
seat seating
steam steamed
 

Rule #4

Of course, if a word ends in two consonants, leave them as they are.
help helper
reform reformed

 
 

Spelling list:

(and there are no exceptions this time!)

1. hop hopping   11. seat seating
2. whip whipped
12. steam steamed
3. scar scarred
13. leap leaping
4. stop stopping
14. stoop stooped
5. shop shopping
15. loom looming
6. sit sitting
16. seem seeming
7. cut cutter
17. roof roofer
8. begin beginner
18. fool fooled
9. control controller
19. feel feeling
10. submit submitting
20. steal stealing

This Week in Core