Download Year 6 spelling rules - The Vine Inter

The Vine Inter-Church Primary School
Year 6 spelling rules
Spelling rules
Example words
Prefixes
A prefix is a letter or group of letters that can be added to the beginning of a word to make a new
word. They can tell us useful information about a root word.
trans (means across, beyond or through)
bi (means two)
transfusion / transaction / transcribe
bicycle / biannual / bilingual
tri (means three)
semi (means half or partly)
triangle / tricycle / triangulate
semi-circular, semi-colon
aero (relates to the air)
micro (means small)
aeroplane / aerodynamic / aerospace
microscope / microwave / microscopic
tele (refers to distance)
photo (refers to light)
teleport / televise / telegram / telepathy
photocopy / photosynthesis / photograph
circum (means around or about)
circumference / circumnavigate
Prefixes with hyphens to avoid confusion with similar
words or to separate vowels.
re-sent (to send again) resent (begrudge)
co-operate / re-establish / pre-install
Suffixes
A suffix is a letter or group of letters that can be added to the end of a word to make a new word.
cious / tious / xious
If the root words ends in ‘-ce’, the /shus/ sound is spelt
‘-cious)
gracious / ferocious / conscious / spacious
infectious / cautious / scrumptious /
anxious / noxious
cial / tial
The ‘-cial’ spelling is common after a vowel. The ‘-tial’
special / social / artificial / commercial / crucial /
glacial / facial
spelling is common after a consonant.
confidential / impartial / essential / influential /
unsubstantial
Words ending with the sounds ‘unt’, ‘unce’ and ‘uncy’
These suffixes sound similar and there is no particular
rule, so the words just need to be learned. Here are
some examples.
observant / hesitant / inhabitant
permanent / instrument / frequent
observance / tolerance / substance / insurance
patience / experience / intelligence / difference
hesitancy / buoyancy / vacancy / tenancy
currency / frequency / decency / absorbency
able / ible
The ‘-able’ spelling is common when a complete root
reliable / applicable / justifiable / fashionable /
word can be heard before it.
The ‘-ible’ spelling is common when a complete root
comfortable / questionable / reasonable
word can’t be heard before it.
incredible / visible / possible / terrible / edible /
irresponsible / horrible
The Vine Inter-Church Primary School
ably / ibly
These suffixes sound similar and there is no particular
rule, so these words just need to be learned. Here are
some examples.
admirably / acceptably / forgivably / tolerably /
favourably / regrettably / acceptably
irresistibly / audibly / terribly / legibly / possibly /
feasibly / credibly / forcibly
Words ending in ‘fer’
When you add a suffix to a word end in ‘fer’, sometimes
you double the ‘r’ but sometimes you don’t. There is
preference / deference / preference / suffering /
differed / transference / difference /
no particular rule, so these words have to be learned.
Here are a few examples.
deferred / transferred / conferred /
Confusing words
ei and ie words
Remember: ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’ if the vowel
rhymes with bee.
ough words
Words with this pattern have the sounds ‘or’ / ‘uff’ /
‘ow’ / ‘oo/ .
field / science / wield / relieved / brief / believable
receive / weight / neighbour / seize / freight
bought / thought / although /
rough / tough / thorough /
bough / plough / drought
through / breakthrough
silent letters
Try group silent letters together to help you learn
groups of words.
silent k: knee / knight / knife / knave
silent u: guess / guard / guitar
confusing nouns and verbs
noun
Some nouns and verbs sound the same or similar but
mean different things and are spelt differently.
advice / advise
licence / license
verb
practice / practise
homophones
Words that are pronounced the same but have
different meanings or spellings are called
homophones.
right / write
altar / alter
bridal / bridle
draught / draft
complimentary / complementary
who’s / whose
assistants / assistance
lesson / lessen