Statutory requirements

Rules and guidance (non-statutory)

Example words

(non-statutory)

-tch

The/tf/ sound is usually spelt as tch if it comes straight after a single vowel letter. Exceptions: rich, which, much, such.

catch, fetch, kitchen, notch, hutch

The /v/ sound at the end of words

English words hardly ever end with the letter v, so if a word ends with a /v/ sound, the letter e usually needs to be added after the ‘v’.

have, live, give

Adding s and es to words (plural of nouns and the third person singular of verbs)

If the ending sounds like /s/ or /z/, it is spelt as

-s. If the ending sounds like /Iz/ and forms an extra syllable or ‘beat’ in the word, it is spelt as

-es.

cats, dogs, spends, rocks, thanks, catches

Adding the endings

-ing, -ed and -er to verbs where no change is needed to the root word

-ing and -er always add an extra syllable to the

word and -ed sometimes does.

The past tense of some verbs may sound as if it ends in /1d/ (extra syllable), /d/ or /t/ (no extra syllable). but all these endings are spelt-ed. If the verb ends in two consonant letters (the same or different), the ending is simply added on.

hunting, hunted, hunter, buzzing, buzzed, buzzer, jumping, jumped, jumper

Adding-er and -est to adjectives where no change is needed to the root word

As with verbs (see above), if the adjective ends in two consonant letters (the same or different), the ending is simply added on.

grander, grandest, fresher, freshest, quicker, quickest