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Unit 25: Spelling the schwa ending: er ar or our re a
Page 2 of 14

Unit 25: Word endings: -er, -ar, -or, -our, -re, -a and -ery,

Unit Startpage 1page 2Course Testpage 4page 5Course Testpage 7Course Testpage 9page 10Course Testpage 12page 13page 14Unit End

Page 2 of 14

Spelling the schwa ending: er, or, ar

We've put lots of examples of words that end in a schwa sound in the table below. How many do you know? How many more can you learn by using 'Learn the Words'?

Spelling English words with schwa ending Spelling English words with schwa ending Spelling English words with schwa ending
as in computer or as in monitor ar as in calendar
Adjectives:

hotter
sharper
lighter
smoother
braver
wider
tidier
nastier
heavier
...and many more

Other words:

baker
cooker
toaster
driver
dancer
rider
runner
swimmer
teacher
daughter
butcher
lawyer
writer
manager
publisher
anger
answer
deliver
differ
helicopter
...and many more

Learn the Words:
-ctor words:

actor
doctor
collector
inspector
instructor


-itor words:

visitor
editor
creditor
competitor
exhibitor
janitor
solicitor



-ator words:

accelerator
alligator
applicator
calculator
commentator
creator
dictator
decorator
demonstrator
educator
elevator
indicator
operator
radiator
refrigerator
senator
spectator
ventilator 		-essor words:

aggressor
assessor
confessor
possessor
predecessor
processor
professor
successor

-rror words:

error
horror
mirror
terror


Other words:

anchor
author
debtor
censor*
donor
emperor
mayor
sailor
sponsor
survivor
scissors
Learn the Words:
-lar words:

burglar
cellar*
collar
dollar
caterpillar
circular
molar
polar
scholar
solar
muscular
particular
popular
rectangular
regular
spectacular
triangular
similar
Learn the Words:


Other words:

altar*
beggar
familiar
peculiar
lunar
sonar
sugar
vicar
vinegar
vulgar
Learn the Words:
Notes:
1) For learners of US spellings:
You will find some more -or and -er words on page 5.

2) Words marked * are homophones; please see page 14.

Learning Tip for English spelling Very often, when there is no hard and fast rule, we have to transfer spellings into our memories. You can do this in different ways so it's important to find the way that suits you:
  1. Grouping words that contain the same endings and memorising the list.
  2. Making up sentences with as many of those words in as possible.
  3. Use 'Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check'.
  4. Say them as they are spelt, exaggerating the vowel sound.
  5. Repeating Spellzone 'Learn the Word' and Activities.

Note: calendar is one of the words most often misspelled by adults. Don't be one of them!

You have not completed Learn the Words activities for each word list on this page.

next part of the spelling course
Go to a test in -er, -or and -ar words.

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The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.

One of the students has put in a huge amount of effort in completing Spellzone at least 3 times a week since his arrival with us in January. Looking at his scores after the latest GL testing, his standardised score has risen from 99 to 131. This is a truly phenomenal result. I just wanted to share the best result I have ever seen.

Terrie Penrose-Toms, Casterton College

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