Consonant doubling is the biggest English spelling problem
Consonant doublingis the biggest English spelling problem It causes more spelling errors than any other spelling difficulty. In root words of more than one syllable it is totally unpredictable. Doubling a consonant is supposed to show that a vowel is short rather than long, as in bitter biter,teddy - tedious, tinny tinyIt was intended to apply just tostressedvowels. This is meant to explain why 'conferred'and'committed'haverrandttin the past tense, but'entered'and'plummeted'don't (whened is added to 'confer, commit,enter' and 'plummet').
Unfortunately, English consonant doubling is used very inconsistently.There is no reliable rulefor deciding whether to double a consonant, or not, in similarly sounding words. Learners have to memorise, word by word, when to double and when not to, as the chart below summarises.
This rote-learning burden of913words defeats many learners.Another73words exacerbate it even further.49 words have unpredictablefinal-ff, -llandss(if stiff,stole- poll,busfuss)and24 wordsdon't follow theccle pattern,of endings likeapple, bubble,tussle, for example,chapel,double,rustle.Table 1:379 common words which obey the consonant doubling rule, 376 words which disobey the doubling rule, 158 words that have doubled consonants for obscure reasons and 73 words withunpredictable endings.DoubledLetters
Words that obey the doubling rule
Words that disobey the doubling rule
Words with phonically surplusdoubled consonants(and underlined stressed vowels)
bb
abbey rabbitcabbage Sabbathjabber shabby
ribbon
hobby lobbychubby stubbornrubber stubby rubbish
cabinet elaboratecabaret fabulouscabin habitnebula trebleliberal libertytributeprobable robin
abbreviate
ck
(for cc or kk)
bracken packetbracket jacketpackage racket
reckon
bicker stickychicken ticketcricket wickedflicker wickerrickety wicketcockerel locketcrockery rocket hockey rockyjockey socketpocket stocking bucket cuckoo sucker
accurate lacquertobaccovacuum
recognise decaderecord executive(noun)second echosecular mechanism chequeredpiccololiquorliquorice
crocodiledocumentsoccupy
succulent
accomodate accordionaccommodation accountaccompany accumulateaccomplish accuseaccord accustom
occasionoccupationoccurrence
succumb
dd
adder daddycaddie laddercaddy eddy teddy wedding
giddy riddenhiddenshoddy sodden
rudder suddenshudder pudding
academy radicaladequate radish
credit medicaldedicated meadowedible pedaledit pedigreeeducate readyfederal steady alreadyhideous video
body modernproduce modeststudy
add
midday
odd
ff
daffodil scaffold traffic effigy effortdifferentdifficult jiffycoffee coffinoffer officebuffalo ruffianbuffer suffer buffet suffocatechuffed
cafe
refuge heiferrefuse (noun)magnificentsignificant
profit
affair affectionaffect afford paraffineffectefficient effluentdifferentialdiffusionoffendofficialsufficient
chaffeur
gg
baggage scraggyjagged staggermaggot swagger beggarsnigger triggersoggyluggage ruggednugget
agony hexagonaldragonflagonnegativebrigand frigate
aggravateaggressive
dg(for j sound)
badger fledgling
midget
dodgy dodgemspodgybudgie drudgerybudget
exaggeratelegend registerlegislate vegetableregimentpigeon rigidreligionlogic
suggest(pronounced in US)
ll
alley gallon alligator gallopally gallows ballast mallet ballet rallyballot shallow challenge stallion gallant valley gallery
swallow wallop wallaby wallow walletbellow jellybelly pellet cellar rebellion cello sellotape cellophane trellis fellow umbrella intelligent yellow
armadillo illustrate artillery milligrams billiard million billion pillar billow pillow billy silly brilliant vanilla frilly villa gorilla village guerillas villain guillotine syllable collar jolly colleague lollipop college lolly collie mollusc colliery pollen dollar pollinate follow trolley hollow volley hollylullaby sullen bullet bullock bulletin bully bullion pulley pullover
analysis reality balance salad battalion salary calendar salon chalet talent galaxy talonitalic valentine morality valiant palace valid palate value palette vitality
celery jealous delegate melody delicacy melon deluge pelican develop relevant element reliceligible skeleton helicopter telescope zealous abilitybiliousmilitary
ventriloquist
cylinderabolish polythene colony quality column solemn demolish solid holiday tolerate olive volume knowledge voluntary policypolitics colour
llamaparallel
really
excellenthellojewellerymarvelloussatelliteconstellation
caterpillarillegibleilliterateillusionillustrationilluminatepastilletonsillitis
collagecollapsecollectcollide
controlledrollerswollen
mm
ammonite mammal clammy mammoth hammer stammer inflammable dilemma
glimmer simmer symmetry
comment common commentarycommunism commerce communist
dummy summer mummy summit rummage summon summary tummy
amateur dynamic camel enamel camera famished damage laminatecemetary remedy chemical lemon democrat feminine emerald premise epidemic semi memorycriminal timid eliminate imagelimitabominable economic comet prominent comic promise dominate vomit domino
ammunitionprogramme*
immediate immortal immense immune
accommodation commotion command communication commemorate communion commence community commercial commuter commit committee commodities recommend
nn
annual nanny banner pannier cannot savannah granny spanner manner uncanny
antenna tennispennant penny
dinnerinnerinnocenceinnocentspinnaker
bonnet sonnet
animal organic anorak panel banish panic banister spaniel canopy vanish manage manual manorbenefitany many enemy penetrate energy venison menace lieutenant aluminium linear cinema minimal clinical minister cynical minute synagogue opinion synonym sinister continue spinach finish vinegar astonish monastery conifer monarch economy monument electronic supersonic tonichoney onion money
anniversaryannounceannoy
connectpersonnel
mayonnaise
questionnaire
pp
appetite happy happen nappy
pepper
flipper skipper kipper slippers
copper poppy coppice sloppy opposite
puppet supper puppy upper
rapid capital tapestry capitol capita chapel
leper epictepid separate
copy topic opera popular operate tropics properproperty
appal applaud apparatus applyapparent appoint appeal appreciate appear apprentice appendix approach appropriate hippopotamus approve approximate opportunityoppose
supply suppose support
rr
arrow marrowbarren marrybarrier narrativebarrister narrowbarrow parrotcarrot quarrycarry sparrowgarret warrant warrenberry merrycherry sherryerrand terraceerror terribleferry territoryherring terrorinterrogate
irritable squirrelmirror stirrup
borrow sorrowcorridor sorryhorrible tomorrowlorry torrent
worryburrow hurricanecurrent hurryfurrowed scurryfurry turret
Arab caricaturearable carolarid clarityasparagus comparisonbaron garagecaramel parasolcaravan parishchariot transparentcharityberet America bury meritceremony perilcherish perishderelict sincerityherald steriliseheritage therapistheroine veryheronconspiracy spiritempirical syruplyric tyrannymiracleauthority laurelcoral majorityflorist minorityforest moralhistoric orangehoroscope priority quarantine
thoroughcouragenourish
arrangearrayarrestarrivebarricade
erraticinterruptserratedterrific
irregularirrigation
torrentialcorrespondcorrectcorrelation
hurrahcurriculumsurrendersurround
ss: ambassador massivecasseroleclassic passagemassacre passenger
delicatessen messageessay necessityessence professorlessonmissilenarcissusrissole
blossom gossipcolossal possible fossil
acid glaciercapacity (USglaishier)fascinatepacifist
adolescent recipeconvalescence specifycrescent specimendecimalchrysalis participatediscipline precipiceelectricity publicityexplicit simplicitymunicipal solicitorvelocity sausage
assail assessmentassassin assignassault assistassemble associateassert assort assumedessert cassetteessential embassynecessarypossesspossibility
tt
attic matterattitude patterbatter patternbattery regattachatter scatterclatter shatterfatty tatter latterbetter letterconfetti lettucejettison prettyjetty spaghetti
bitten mittenbitter sitterglitter titterkitten twitterlitter written
bottom lotterycottage mottocotton otterforgotten potter
butter puttybutton shutterclutter spluttergutter stuttermutter utter mutton
atom platinumbaton platypuscatalogue satincatapult strategycategorycompatiblelaterallatitudeathletic tetanusmagnetic veteranmetal yetipetal competitive
British literallycitizen obliteratecitycriticalpity
botany
attach battalionattainattempt tattooattend mattressattentionattorneyattractattributedomelettepalette
settee
zz
blizzard buzzard dizzy fuzzy
hazard presenthesitate presidentlizard residentlozenge miserablewizard prisonwizened risen closetcloset depositdesert positivedesignate visibledesolate visithesitate scissors
49 words haveunpredictable final-ff,-lland-ss
cuffhuffroughcliff stiffchef
duffpufftoughsniffwhiff if
gruffstuffslough
enoughstaffcalf
off of coughhalf
troughlaugh
dolepollcoalbawlallshall
holerollfoalbrawlball
molescrollgoalcrawlcall
polestrollshoaldrawlfall
roletollscrawlhall
soletrollsoulshawlsmall
stoledollsprawlstall
wholelolltrawltall
casserole controlwall
rissole enrol
tadpole patrol
fussusatlascarcassbrass*
pussbuscanvascompassclass*
trusspluspampasembarrassglass*
hissthispyjamasgrass*
kisstrespasspass*
missChristmasmass*
assgas* In standard UK speechthese words rhyme with'farce'and'sparse';and'mass'has a variable sound.
crass
lassyes
24wordsdon't follow thecclepatternof doubled consonants in endings
babbleknucklebafflecamelbarrelbattle
bubblenickelmufflepommellaurelbottle
cobblepicklerafflepummelquarrelcattle
dabblepricklerufflesquirrelkettle
doublespecklescufflechannellittle
dribblesuckleshuffleflannelapostlenettle
gabbletacklesnifflefunnelbristlerattle
gobbleticklekennelbustleruffle
hobbletricklegigglepanelcastlescuttle
nibblegoggletunnelgristlesettle
pebblecuddlehagglehassleskittle
quibblefiddleniggleapplehustlesubtle
rubblehuddlesmugglechapeljostlethrottle
scribblemeddlesnugglecouplemusclewattle
squabblemiddlestragglecripplemussel
treblemodelstrugglegrapplerustledazzle
troublemuddlewigglerippletasseldrizzle
wobblepaddlewrigglesupplethistlegrizzle
peddletippletrestleguzzle
bucklepuddletoppletusslemuzzle
cackleriddletriplevesselnozzle
chucklesaddlewhistlenuzzle
crackletoddlewrestlepuzzle
ficklesizzle
There is also no general rule for keeping and dropping doubled letters in compounds.
Fill, full- fulfil, beautiful; well- welfare - farewellConsonant doubling causes severe problems for all learners. Even young children have to deal with them soon after first starting to read and write.The following111words withregularly doubled consonants,82withmissing onesand18wordswithsurplus or wrongdoublings feature in most early reading schemes.
111 regular doublingsCabbage rabbit ribbon hobby chubby rubber rubbishdaddy ladder teddy giddy hidden pudding suddendaffodil traffic different difficult coffee office luggagegallop shallow valley cellar fellow jelly yellow billy brilliant bully gorilla pillow silly village collar dollar follow hollow holly jolly lollipop trolley lullabyhammer mummy summer summit tummy yummygranny nanny penny tennis dinnerhappen happy pepper flippers slippers floppy poppy puppet puppy supper upperarrow carrot carry narrow parrot berry cherry ferry terrace terrible mirror borrow horrible lorry sorry tomorrow worry hurrymassive passenger lesson message possibleattic chatter clatter matter scatter shatter better letter lettuce bitter glitter kitten written bottom cottage forgotten butter button clutter mutter buzzer dizzy
82 missingand18 surplus or wrongdoublings
cabin fabulous habit probable robinradish already ready meadow steady body model modern study- add oddcafe- afford dragon- eggbalance calendar palace salad celery helicopter jealous melody melon pelican skeleton holidaysolid volume - collect, hellotimid image abominable comet comic promise vomitanimal banister manage panic vanishany many enemy cinema finish spinach annoyweapon leopard rapid capital separate copy proper topic popular- appearcaravan carol America heroine perish very florist forest orange arrange arrest arrivedecimal recipe dessertatom platypus satin metal petal British city pity- attract attention tattoo settee mattressdesert hesitate present prisonvisit scissors
Passive Verbs
Passive verbs are used in the passive voice, where the emphasis is on what is being done to the object of the sentence. The key wordbycan often be used to identify the passive voice. Any tense can be used with passive verbs.
The studentswere being taughtby the teacher.
Notice the wordby, which clues us in to the passive voice.
The dogwas being walkedby the woman.
The essayshould have been writtenby you, not by your friend.
The fire departmenthas beennotified.
Active Verbs
Active verbs are used when writing in the active voice. In the active voice, the emphasis is on the subject which is doing the action. Any tense can be used with active verbs.
The teachertaughtthe students.
The womanwalkedthe dog.
Youshould writethe essay.
Wemust have walkedfor three hours.
Therewill besnow tomorrow.
Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs)
Helping verbs orauxiliary verbs are the little verbs which go along with the main verb. Helping verbs dont show the action of the subject, they just show the tense of the verb.
Mattused tolike playing golf.
The main verb islike, andused tois the helping verb which tells us it was in the past.
Whatdidyou do on your holidays?
The catwasplaying with string.
Tonight, itwill besnowing.
When weweregrowing up, we liked to play in the park.
Helping verbs are also used in conditional sentences; these verbs help to create the state of condition.
If you work hard, youshouldget to wherever you want to be.
Alexmightcome over tomorrow, if he gets his essay finished.
Main Verbs
The main verb is also called thelexical verb. This term refers to the important verb in the sentence, the one which shows the action of the subject. Main verbs can stand alone, or they can be helped along by some other little verbs (a.k.a.auxiliary verbs).
Iwashappy.
In this sentence,wasis the main verb.
I wasfeelinghappy.
In this sentence,feelingis the main verb andwasis the auxiliary verb.
I must have beenfeelinghappy.
Feelingis still the main verb.
If I wereto be fired, I wouldbeunhappy.
Wheredidthey go?
What are we goingto do?
Be, haveanddocan be used as main verbs, even though they dont involve physical activity.
What Are Verbs
Verbs are action words: thats a rather simplified explanation but its the clearest one. Verbs tell you what the subject of the sentence is up to.
Tomisfunny.
The verbistells us what Tom is doing: hes being funny.
Verbs dont have to be just one word; they can have up to four parts.
The catis purring.
When wewere goingto work, itbegan to rain.
The boymust have been doingsomething terribleto makehis mother that upset.
The parts of the verb can also be separated by other words (usually adverbs).
Ihavealwayslikedthat painting.
Whydoyou notlike to eatchocolate?
Verbs can also be contracted, either with a noun or an adverb.
Ivealwayslikedthat painting.
Dont youlikeit?
WheresAndrew?