CK / TCH / DGE Spelling Cheat Sheet (PDF)
Three sounds that spell differently right after a short vowel — ck vs k, tch vs ch, dge vs ge, with example words for each.
Three spelling choices that depend on the vowel before them: ck or k, tch or ch, dge or ge — explained on one page.
What’s inside
- CK after a short vowel (back, kick, sock, duck, rock) vs K after a consonant or long vowel (milk, bank, bike, snake, week).
- TCH after a short vowel (catch, kitchen, witch, match) vs CH after a consonant or long vowel (lunch, church, beach, coach).
- DGE after a short vowel (bridge, badge, edge, dodge, budge) vs GE after a consonant or long vowel (huge, page, orange, danger).
Every word in this PDF (24)
Handy for checking the list fits your child before printing, or for making your own games.
kick, sock, duck, rock, milk, bank, bike, snake, catch, kitchen, witch, match, lunch, church, beach, coach, bridge, badge, edge, dodge, budge, huge, orange, danger
How to use it
- Teach the pattern: short vowel right before → the longer spelling (ck, tch, dge).
- Say a word, and ask: "Is the vowel short? Is it right before the sound?"
- Find the matching row and write the word.
- Start with ck, which children meet first.
Who it’s for
Ages 6–9. ck is taught with k in Stage 2; tch and dge come later.
Where it fits: Stage 5 — Vowel Teams & Tricky Words
Goes well with
Teach phonics online — one short lesson a day
Sign in free and follow a plan that remembers where you are. Right here in your browser, on phone, tablet or computer — nothing to download.
- 92 step-by-step lessons, SATPIN first
- Big flashcards to show your child
- Games, checkpoints and progress for every sound
For little ones (2–6) there’s also our sound-play game on iPhone & iPad and Android.