3rd Grade spelling
3rd Grade Double Consonant Words
Spelling words with a doubled consonant in the middle, like rabbit, happy, little and funny. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet.
Read the spelling list
The pattern: Two-syllable words with a doubled consonant in the middle, which keeps the first vowel short (rabbit, happy).
A double consonant, two of the same letter side by side, is common in the middle of two-syllable words. In happy, funny, sorry, little and follow the doubled letter comes after a short vowel in a stressed syllable. The doubled letter also tells the reader that the first vowel is short: hopping has a short o, while hoping has a long one.
This list holds two-syllable words that contain a doubled consonant: little, happy, pretty, million, common, happen, middle, sorry, funny, follow, coffee and carry. Not every word follows the short vowel idea. In allow, accept, appear and address the doubled letter comes from a prefix joining a base, as in ad plus dress, and the stress falls on the second syllable. We selected the words by spelling and syllable count, not by this rule, so the list mixes both types. That mix is useful for third graders, who can sort the words into two groups themselves.
30 entries. Our solver needed 2.6 wrong guesses on average: 9 easy, 16 medium and 5 hard. The toughest is happy (8 misses), the quickest little (0).
- little Easy · 0
- support Medium · 3
- pretty Easy · 1
- happy Hard · 8
- million Medium · 2
- current Medium · 2
- issue Medium · 2
- account Medium · 3
- common Hard · 6
- happen Hard · 5
- middle Medium · 3
- sorry Medium · 4
- follow Hard · 5
- attack Medium · 4
- written Medium · 2
- effect Easy · 0
- funny Hard · 5
- allow Medium · 3
- pressure Easy · 1
- battle Medium · 3
- approach Medium · 2
- effort Medium · 2
- address Easy · 1
- carry Medium · 4
- challenge Easy · 0
- comment Easy · 1
- mission Easy · 1
- coffee Easy · 1
- accept Medium · 2
- appear Medium · 2
Words worth a closer look
- issueThe ss is doubled even though the stress is on the first syllable. Some speakers say it with a sh sound in the middle.
- coffeeDouble f and double e, so both pairs are doubled. Players who find f or e fill two spaces each time.
- addressAd plus dress gives double d and double s. Two doubles in one word, a common source of spelling errors.
- writtenWrite plus ten, with a doubled t. The vowel in the first syllable is short, unlike write.
- challengeDouble l in the middle, then a soft g with silent e. The ll is easy; the ending catches students.
Teaching it
The common error is a single letter where two belong, writing hapy or litle, or two where one belongs, as in writting. Say the word slowly, tapping each syllable, and ask where the first syllable ends. If the vowel is short, a double consonant usually follows. Cover and spell tasks suit this pattern.
In hangman, doubled letters give an unusual bonus: one correct guess can fill two spaces. Ask players to predict which letter in the word is doubled. Afterward, students sort the list on the printable into short vowel words and prefix words, and discuss the exceptions.
Print a 3rd Grade Double Consonant Hangman worksheet
Eight puzzles on one US Letter page, with a clue, letter blanks, an empty frame to draw in, an alphabet strip to cross off and circles to count misses. Page two is the answer key.
Need another sheet?
Draw eight different words from this list, right here. Same layout, new answer key.
Keep going
- 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix UnSpelling words that start with the prefix un, meaning not, like unhappy, unfair, unsafe and unlucky. Play hangman or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix ReSpelling words that start with the prefix re, usually meaning again, like rebuild, restart, replace and remove. Play hangman or print a worksheet.
- 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix DisSpelling words starting with the prefix dis, meaning not or the opposite of, like disagree, dislike, disappear and discount. Play hangman or print a list.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in Ful and LessSpelling words ending in ful and less, like helpful, hopeful, careless and homeless. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in LySpelling words ending in ly, like quickly, slowly, finally and friendly. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in NessSpelling words ending in ness, like kindness, sadness, darkness and happiness. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.