Suffix Spelling Rules Cheat Sheet (PDF)

What happens to a base word when -ing, -ed, -er or -y is added — six rules with examples on one page.

What’s inside

• 1-1-1 Doubling Rule (run → running, hop → hopped, big → bigger) and Drop the Silent E (make → making, bake → baker).
• Change Y to I (baby → babies, cry → cried) and Keep the Y after a vowel (play → playing, boy → boys).
• Keep the E before a consonant suffix (care → careful, hope → hopeless) and No Doubling Needed (rain → raining, jump → jumping).

How to use it

1. Keep it next to the writing space and refer to it while spelling.
2. When a word needs a suffix, find the matching row together.
3. Quiz one rule a day with two new base words.
4. Pair with the suffix worksheet for practice.

Watch out for

• Words ending in w, x or y don't double (snowing, boxing, playing).
• Change y to i only after a consonant; play → played keeps the y.
• Longer words (begin → beginning) follow a stress rule not covered here.

Who it’s for

Ages 6–9.

Where it fits: Stage 5 — Vowel Teams & Tricky Words

Goes well with

• Suffix Spelling Rules: -ing, -ed, -er Word Lists by Pattern