Page 243 - Basic English Usage

245 320 — 321

320 spelling: ch and tch, k and ck

After one vowel, at the end of a word, we usually write -ck and -tch for
the sounds /k/ and /tf/.
back neck sick lock — stuck
catch fetch — stitch botch hutch
Exceptions:
rich which such much

After a consonant or two vowels, we write -k and -ch.
bank work talk march bench
break book week peach coach

321 spelling: doubling final consonants

When we add -ed, -ing, -eror -estto a word, we sometimes double the
final consonant.
big bigger sit sitting stop stopped

We double the following letters:
b: rub rubbing n: begin beginner
d: sad sadder p: stop stopped
g: big bigger r: prefer preferred
I: travel travelling t: sit sitting
m: slim slimmer

We only double these letters when they come at the end of a word.
Compare:
hop hopping BUT hope hoping
fat fatter BUT late later
plan planned BUT phone phoned

We only double when there is one consonant after one vowel letter.
Compare:
fat fatter BUT fast faster (NOT faster)
bet betting BUT beat beating (NOT beatting)

In longer words, we only double a consonant if the /ast syllable of the
word is stressed. Compare:
up'set up'setting BUT _ ‘visit ‘visiting
be'gin be'ginning BUT ‘open ‘opening
refer referring BUT » ‘offer ‘offering