Correct spelling helps readers understand your writing.
Knowing spellingpatterns can help you become a better speller.
SyllablePatterns
Syllable
A syllable is defined by an unbroken vowel sound in a word. Words can have one or more syllables. The number of syllables is like the number of beats in a word. Knowing different syllable division patterns can help you spell words correctly.
Closed Syllables
When the vowel sound in a syllable is short, it is "closed off" by a consonantsound. Closed syllables are surrounded by or end with one or more consonants.
Example:
pumpkin → pump · kin
muffin → muf · fin
Open Syllables
When a syllable is "open," it ends with a vowel sound and usually makes a long vowel sound.
Example:
silent → si · lent
solo → so · lo
Final Stable Syllables
A final stable syllable only comes at the end of a word. It consists of a combination of letters that makes a reliable sound. Some final stable syllables include consonant +le, -tion, -sion, -ture, and -age.
Example:
dimple → dim · ple
snuggle → snug · gle
population → pop · u · la · tion
expression → ex · pres · sion
mixture → mix · ture
cabbage → cab · bage
VCe Syllables
A VCe syllable, or "magic e" syllable, makes a long vowel sound that is spelled with a single vowel, followed by a single consonant, followed by a silente.
Example:
reproduce → re · pro · duce
compose → com · pose
r-Controlled Vowels
When a vowel is followed by an r in a syllable, the r changes the sound. An ar makes an /ar/ sound. An er makes an /ər/ sound. An ir also makes an /ər/ sound, as does a ur. An or may make an /ər/ sound or an /or/ sound.
Example:
depart → de · part
finger → fin · ger
thirteen → thir · teen
export → ex · port
purple → pur · ple
VowelTeams
Vowels sometimes work in teams to make single sounds.
ea,ee
Syllables with an ea or ee vowel team often make a long e sound. However, sometimes syllables with the ea vowel team make a shorte sound.
Example:
reason → rea · son
weather → weath · er
oa,oe
Syllables with an oa or oe vowel team often make a long o sound.
Example:
tomatoes → to · ma · toes
oi,oy
Syllables with an oi or oy vowel team often make an /oy/ sound, as in boy.
Example:
destroy → de · stroy
ei,ie
Syllables with an ei or ie vowel team often make the long e sound.
Example:
relief → re · lief
There are many other vowel and letter teams. Here are a few more examples:
Sometimes there are syllablebreaksbetween two vowels. Then, each vowel makes its own sound, rather than working together as a team to make one sound. This is a Vowel-Vowel (VV) syllable division pattern.