Spelling myth 1: -tion, -sion, -cion and -ssion

Many popular spelling schemes teach -tion, -sion, -cion and -ssion as four different suffixes, with spelling rules and exceptions for their use. These are incorrect and overwhelming for learners.

Fact

Our scheme teaches learners how to spell one suffix: suffix -ion.

And the letters t, s and c? These letters will be part of the other morphemes that create the word.

• act + ion = action

• re + vise + ion = revision (drop the final “e” from “vise”)

• su + spice + ion = suspicion (drop the final “e” from “spice”)

• ob + sess + ion = obsession

Spelling myth 2: -cious and -tious

Many popular schemes teach -cious and -tious as two different suffixes, with spelling rules and exceptions for their use. These separate suffixes do not exist and can be overwhelming for learners.

Fact

Our scheme teaches learners how to spell suffix -ous, which always carries the meaning “full of”. We use the connecting vowel letter i to join the morphemes, smoothing the pronunciation.

And the letters t, and c? These letters will be part of the other morphemes that create the word.

• space + i + ous = spacious (drop the final “e” from “space”)

• in + fect + i + ous = infectious

Spelling myth 3: i before e except after c

This is a well-known rule, created in the 1800s to help children remember the spelling of some words, but it oversimplifies the system. In fact, it is wrong more than twenty times as often as it is right!

Fact

The letter pattern cei appears in English in one word family, which ultimately comes from the Latin root capere: bases ceive and ceipt, which carry the meaning of “take, seize or hold”. When we teach the spelling of these two bases and words in their family, we teach how this cei letter pattern really works in English, in words such as receipt or inconceivable.

Exceptions (“ei” without a “c”):

• weigh, eight, vein, veil, sleigh, height, either, neither, Einstein, weird, leisure, species, science

Exceptions after “c” (using “ie” instead of “ei”):

• ancient, deficient, sufficient, species, proficient, conscience, glacier, and more!

Spelling myth 4: sounding out all words

Phonically regular words can be sounded out in their entirety, but for most words, this approach only gets you part of the way—because English spelling also preserves meaning and history, not just sound.

Fact

English spellings reflect not just sounds (phonology), but also word parts and meanings (morphology) and word histories (etymology).
Bowers and Bowers, 2017

“Erupted” ✅ sounds like “Eruptid” ❌

Spelling myth 5: -cial and -tial

Many popular schemes teach -cial and -tial as two different suffixes, with spelling rules and exceptions for their use. These separate suffixes do not exist and can be overwhelming for learners.

Fact

Our scheme teaches learners how to spell suffix -al, which always carries the meaning “action, process or related to”. We use the connecting vowel letter i to join the morphemes, smoothing the pronunciation morphemes that create the word.

And the letters t and c? These letters will be part of the other morphemes that create the word.

• part + i + al = partial

• of + fice + i + al = official (drop the final “e” from “fice”)

Meet the authors of Grammarsaurus: The Big Book of Morphemes 

Mitch Hudson is a former deputy headteacher and Specialist Leader of Education. In 2015 he created Grammarsaurus: a primary resource website used by over 20,000 teachers. Mitch has delivered grammar and writing training to teachers across the UK. Follow Mitch @Grammarsaurus1.

Rebecca Sands has a PGCE in General Primary and nine years of teaching experience, as well as an MEd in Primary Education. Additionally, she is studying for a PhD in Education, with a focus on how critical thinking is integrated into the primary curriculum.

Katie Turgyan has a BA (Hons) in Counselling studies and 20 years of teaching experience, as well as an MA in Education. Katie also has five years of experience delivering bespoke one-to-one tuition and workshops for primary-aged children.