The Ending “an” or “en” Spelling Rule
The “Ending an” and “en” Spelling Rule
The suffixes “-ant” and “-ent” are adjectives, meaning the state of, quality, or condition. Both suffixes also take noun forms: “ance-ancy” and “ence-ency.”
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The Ending “an” or “en” Spelling Rule
End a word with “ance”, “ancy”, or “ant” if the root before has a hard /c/ or /g/ sound (vacancy, arrogance) or if the root ends with “ear” or “ure” (clearance, insurance). End a word with “ence”, “ency”, or “ent” if the root before has a soft /c/ or /g/ sound (magnificent, emergency), after “id” (residence), or if the root ends with “ere” (reverence).
Exceptions to the rule: assistance, different, perseverance, resistance, violence
Check out the song! The Ending “an” or “en” Rule
This Old “an” or “en”
(to the tune of “This Old Man”)
If you see, “e-a-r”, or there is a “u-r-e”,
This old man, he played one, he played nick-nack on my thumb
In the root, or if you hear hard c or g,
With a nick-nack paddy-whack, give a dog a bone,
Then spell “ant”, “ance”, or “ancy”.
This old man came rolling home.
If you see, “id” like “fid”, or there is an “e-r-e”
This old man, he played two, he played nick-nack on my shoe
In the root, or if you hear soft c or g,
With a nick-nack paddy-whack, give a dog a bone,
Then spell “ent”, “ence”, or “ency”.
This old man came rolling home.
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A Model Grades 3-8 Spelling Scope and Sequence
Differentiated Spelling Instruction
Preview the Grades 3-8 Spelling Scope and Sequence tied to the author’s comprehensive grades 3-8 Language Strand programs. The instructional scope and sequence includes grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling, and vocabulary. Teachers and district personnel are authorized to print and share this planning tool, with proper credit and/or citation. Why reinvent the wheel? Also check out my articles on Grammar Scope and Sequence, Mechanics Scope and Sequence, and Vocabulary Scope and Sequence.
FREE DOWNLOAD TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF PENNINGTON PUBLISHING AMERICAN ENGLISH AND CANADIAN ENGLISH SPELLING PROGRAMS. Check out these grades 3-8 programs HERE. Administer my FREE comprehensive Diagnostic Spelling Assessment with audio file and recording matrix. It has 102 words (I did say comprehensive) and covers all common spelling patterns and conventional spelling rules. It only takes 22 minutes and includes an audio file with test administration instructions. Once you see the gaps in your students’ spelling patterns, you’re going to want to fill those gaps.
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