1. The Patterns of English Spelling
on the A Pages
with their
Word Families Put in Sentence Context
on the B Pages
Volume 5
The -R & W- Controlled Clans
such as: __-r __-r_ w-__ w-__ w-_-r w-_-r_
car card wan wand war ward
for ford won wolf worth word
& Miscellaneous Relatives
By Don McCabe
Contents of The Basic Patterns of English Spelling by Volumes
Volume
Number TYPES OF WORDS EXAMPLES PAGES
1 Short Vowels: CVC dad get tin 101A-160B
2 Short Vowels: CVCC band went itch 201A-282B
3 Long Vowels: CV & CVCe go nice tube 301A-380B
4 Long Vowels: CVVC raid seem roam 401A-442B
5 -R & W- controls tar/war for/word wad/ward 501A-534B
6 Basic Suffixes batter battle dreadful 601A-691B
7 The Ending Y's destiny simplify trickiest 701A-764B
8 Power Suffixes precious partially permission 801A-880B
9 Advanced Patterns techniques chauvinist fiancée 901A-962B
10 Prefixes/Suffixes/Roots psychology photographic synthesizer 1001A-1074B
Copyright © 2008 AVKO Educational Research Foundation
3084 Willard Road
Birch Run, Michigan 448415
Phone: (810) 686-9283 FAX: (810) 686-1101
1

2. Table of Contents for Volume V Arranged by Vowel Letters
Ending Ending Ending
Consonant Consonant Consonant
Vowel Vowel Vowel
Example Example Example
Page Page Page
-- a car 501 ch o porch 516 n o corn 517
-- a-e care 523 ch u church 520 n u turn 521
-- ai chair 530 d a card 505 p a sharp 508
-- e her 511 d a standard 506-7 p i chirp 515
-- e-e here 524 d e herd 511 p u burp 521
-- e-e there 524 d ea beard 533 pe o Thorpe 517
-- ea bear 530 d ea heard 533 ps o corps 518
-- ea near 531 d i bird 514 pse o corpse 518
-- ee beer 531 d o ford 516 se a sparse 509
-- ei heir 530 d oa board 533 se e verse 512
-- i sir 514 d u curd 520 se ea hearse 534
-- i-e fire 525 de o horde 516 se o horse 518
-- ia liar 532 f a scarf 507 se oa coarse 534
-- ie pier 531 f e serf 512 se ou course 534
-- o for 516 f u turf 520 se u nurse 522
-- o-e more 526 g e berg 512 sh a harsh 509
-- oa soar 532 g u burg 520 st ea Hearst 534
-- oo door 532 ge a large 507 st i first 515
-- oo poor 532 ge i dirge 514 st u burst 522
-- oo-e Moore 532 ge o forge 517 t a part 510
-- ou sour 532 ge u urge 521 t e expert 513
-- ou tour 532 k a park 507 t i dirt 515
-- owe power 532 k e jerk 512 t o sport 519
-- u fur 520 k i shirk 514 t ou court 534
b a barb 505 k o fork 517 t u hurt 522
b e herb 511 k u lurk 521
b o absorb 516 l a Carl 508 th e berth 513
b u curb 520 l ea pearl 533 th ea earth 533
ce a farce 509 l i girl 514 th i birth 515
ce a scarce 523 l u curl 521 th o north 519
ce e commerce 512 m a farm 508 th ou fourth 534
ce ie pierce 534 m e germ 512 ve a carve 509
ce o force 518 m i firm 515 ve e serve 513
ch a march 505 m o form 517 ve u curve 522
ch e perch 511 n a yarn 508
ch ea search 533 n e modern 512 w- a wan wand 504
n ea learn 533 w-r a war ward 502
w-r o word work 503
2

3. Table of Contents for Volume V Arranged by Vowel Letters
Vowel Vowel Vowel
Ending Ending Ending
Consonant Consonant Consonant
Example Example Example
Page Page Page
a -- car 501 e ve serve 513 o m form 517
a b barb 505 e-e -- here 524 o n corn 517
a ce farce 509 e-e -- there 524 o pe Thorpe 517
a ce scarce 523 ea -- bear 530 o ps corps 518
a ch march 505 ea -- near 531 o pse corpse 518
a d card 505 ea ch search 533 o se horse 518
a d standard 506-7 ea d beard 533 o t sport 519
a f scarf 507 ea d heard 533 o th north 519
a ge large 507 ea l pearl 533 o w-r word work 503
a k park 507 ea n learn 533 o-e -- more 526
a l Carl 508 ea se hearse 534 oa -- soar 532
a m farm 508 ea st Hearst 534 oa d board 533
a n yarn 509 ea th earth 533 oa se coarse 534
a p sharp 509 ee -- beer 531 oo -- door 532
a se sparse 509 ei -- heir 530 oo -- poor 532
a sh harsh 509 i -- sir 514 oo-e -- Moore 532
a t part 510 i d bird 514 ou -- sour 532
a th arthritis 510 i ge dirge 514 ou -- tour 532
a ve carve 509 i k shirk 514 ou se course 534
a w- wan wand 504 i l girl 514 ou t court 534
a w-r war ward 502 i m firm 515 ou th fourth 534
a-e -- care 523 i p chirp 515 owe -- power 532
ai -- chair 530 i st first 515 u -- fur 520
e -- her 511 i t dirt 515 u b curb 520
e b herb 511 i th birth 515 u ch church 520
e ce commerce 512 i-e -- fire 525 u d curd 520
e ch perch 511 ia -- liar 532 u f turf 520
e d herd 511 ie -- pier 531 u g burg 520
e f serf 512 ie ce pierce 534 u ge urge 521
e g berg 512 o -- for 516 u k lurk 521
e k jerk 512 o b absorb 516 u l curl 521
e m germ 512 o ce force 518 u n turn 521
e n modern 512 o ch porch 516 u p burp 521
e se verse 512 o d ford 516 u se nurse 522
e t expert 513 o de horde 516 u st burst 522
e th berth 513 o ge forge 517 u t hurt 522
o k fork 517 u ve curve 522
3

4. Table of Contents for Volume V Arranged by Vowel Sounds
Vowel Vowel Vowel
Ending Ending Ending
Consonant Consonant Consonant
Example Example Example
Page Page Page
LONG A LONG OO Short u (schwa)
a ce scarce 523 oo -- poor 532 a d standard 506-7
a-e -- care 523 oo-e -- Moore 532 e -- her 511
ai -- chair 530 ou -- tour 532 e b herb 511
e-e -- there 524 u-e -- cure 527-9 e ce commerce 512
ea -- bear 530 e ch perch 511
ei -- heir 530 e d herd 511
LONG "OW" e f serf 512
e g berg 512
LONG E ou -- sour 532 e k jerk 512
owe -- power 532 e m germ 512
e-e -- here 524 e n modern 512
ea -- near 531 e se verse 512
ea d beard 533 SHORT O (say "AH") e t expert 513
ee -- beer 531 e th berth 513
ie -- pier 531 a -- car 501 e ve serve 513
ie ce pierce 534 a b barb 505 ea ch search 533
a ce farce 509 ea d heard 533
a ch march 505 ea l pearl 533
LONG I a d card 505 ea n learn 533
a f scarf 507 ea se hearse 534
i-e -- fire 525 a ge large 507 ea st Hearst 534
ia -- liar 532 a k park 507 ea th earth 533
a l Carl 508 i -- sir 514
a m farm 508 i d bird 514
LONG O a n yarn 508 i ge dirge 514
a p sharp 508 i k shirk 514
a w-r war ward 502 a se sparse 509 i l girl 514
o -- for 516 a sh harsh 509 i m firm 515
o b absorb 516 a t part 510 i p chirp 515
o ce force 518 a th arthritis 510 i st first 515
o ch porch 516 a ve carve 509 i t dirt 515
o d ford 516 a wa wan wand 504 i th birth 515
o de horde 516 o w-r word work 503
o ge forge 517 o -- color doctor 675-81
o k fork 517 ou -- colour 682
o m form 517 u -- fur 520
o n corn 517 u b curb 520
o pe Thorpe 517 u ch church 520
o ps corps 518 u d curd 520
o pse corpse 518 u f turf 520
o se horse 518 u g burg 520
o t sport 519 u ge urge 521
o th north 519 u k lurk 521
o-e -- sore 526 u l curl 521
oa -- soar 532 u n turn 521
oa d board 533 u p burp 521
oa se coarse 534 u se nurse 521
oo -- door 532 u st burst 522
ou se course 534 u t hurt 522
ou t court 534 u ve curve 522
ou th fourth 534
4

5. The percentages next to words that have them represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell
that word according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally
never found in any 3rd grade book.
5
Almost Alphabetical
Index of Single Syllable -R & W- Controlled Words
air 59% (heir)...........530
arc ...........................507
arch 13%.................505
are 77%...................523
aren’t 12%...............523
arf............................507
ark ...........................507
arm 48%..................508
arms 44%................508
army 26%................754
arse .........................509
art 40% (Art)............510
Art (art)....................510
bar...........................501
barb.........................505
bard (barred) ...........505
bare 10% (bear) ......523
barf..........................507
barge.......................507
bark 39%.................507
barn 51%.................508
barred (bard) ...........501
Bart .........................510
beard 21%...............533
beer (bier)................531
berg (burg) ..............512
Bert (Burt)................513
berth (birth)..............513
birch ........................514
bird 66%..................514
birds 52% ................514
birth 16%.................515
blare ........................523
blur ..........................520
blurb ........................520
blurt .........................522
boar (bore) ..............532
board 9% (bored) 516/533
boor.........................532
bore 13% (boar) ......526
bored (4%) ..............526
born 35% (borne) ....517
borne (born) ............517
burg (berg) ..............520
burn 11%.................521
burned 11%.............521
burning 18%............521
burnt 14%................521
burp.........................521
burr..........................520
burst 6%..................522
Burt .........................522
car 92%...................501
cars 81% .................501
card 51%.................505
cards 38% ...............505
care 41%.................523
cares 22% ...............523
cared 14%...............523
careful 10% .............630
carefully 4%.............749
careless 7% ..........1066
Carl (Karl)................508
carp......................... 508
cart 40% ................. 510
carve....................... 509
chair 38%................ 530
chairs 23%.............. 530
char......................... 501
chard (charred)....... 505
charge 11% ............ 507
charges 9%............. 507
charged 9% ............ 507
charging 10%.......... 507
charm 24% ............. 508
charming 11%......... 508
charred (chard)....... 501
chart 22% ............... 510
cheer 27% .............. 531
cheering 11%.......... 531
cheerful 9%............. 630
chirp........................ 515
chord (cord, cored) . 516
chore....................... 526
chores 7%............... 526
church 18%............. 520
churches 5%........... 520
churn....................... 521
clear 19%................ 531
cleared 9%.............. 531
clearing 19%........... 531
clearly 7%............... 531
clerk 12%................ 512
clerks 6%................ 512
coarse 4% (course) 518
cord 20% ................ 516
core......................... 526
cork......................... 517
corn 48% ................ 517
corpse..................... 518
course 9% (coarse) 518
court 5% ................. 534
courts 6%................ 534
cur........................... 520
curb......................... 520
curd (Kurd).............. 520
cure 8% .................. 527
curl 12%.................. 521
curse....................... 522
curst........................ 522
curt.......................... 522
curve 18%............... 522
czar (tsar) ............... 501
dare 11% ................ 523
dark 36% ................ 507
darn ........................ 508
dart 24% ................. 510
dear 66% (deer)...... 531
dearest 18% ........... 531
dearth ..................... 533
deer 44% (dear)...... 531
dire.......................... 525
dirge........................ 514
dirt 17% .................. 515
dirty 13%................. 755
door 64% ................ 532
doors 58%...............532
during 15%..............527
dwarf .......................502
ear 50%...................531
ears 45%.................531
earl (Earl) ................533
early 22% ................760
earlier 7%................760
earliest 2% ..............760
earn 13% (urn) ........533
earned 3%...............533
earth 21%................533
err............................524
fair (fare)..................530
fairly 17% ................530
far 64%....................501
farther 18%..............646
farce ........................509
fare 15% (fair) .........523
farm 44%.................508
farms 41%...............508
farming 36%............508
farmer 34%..............508
farmers 28%............508
farmer’s 17%...........508
fear 38%..................531
fears 19%................531
fearful 9%................631
fern..........................512
fierce 2% .................534
fir (fur)......................514
fire 52%...................525
fires 36% .................525
firm 9%....................515
firmly 3% .................515
first 32% ..................515
flare (flair)................523
flirt ...........................515
floor 31%.................532
floors 19% ...............532
flour 14% (flower)....532
flower 35% (flour)....532
flowers 38%.............532
for 78% (four, fore)..516
force 9%..................518
forced 2%................518
ford 52%..................516
fore (for, four) ..........526
forge........................517
fork 36%..................517
form 36%.................517
forms 16%...............517
fort 24%...................519
forth 23% (fourth) ....519
four 42%..................532
fourth 17% (forth) ....532
fur 35%....................520
furs 18%..................520
furl ...........................521
garb.........................505
Garth .......................510
gear.........................531
George (Jorge)........517
germ........................ 512
girl 64%................... 514
girls 52%................. 514
girl’s 17% ................ 514
girls’ 18% ................ 514
girth......................... 515
glare........................ 523
glower ..................... 532
gore......................... 526
gored (gourd).......... 526
gorge....................... 517
Guam...................... 504
guard 4% ................ 505
hair 40%.................. 530
hairs 26%................ 530
hard 50% ................ 505
harder 27% ............. 655
hardest 12%............ 655
hare (hair) ............... 523
hark......................... 507
harm 40% ............... 508
harp......................... 508
harsh....................... 509
hart (heart).............. 510
hear 57% (here)...... 531
hearing 24%............ 531
heard 15% (herd).... 533
hearse..................... 534
Hearst ..................... 534
heart 8% (hart)........ 510
hearts 7% (harts) .... 510
hearty 3%................ 755
heartily 1%.............. 715
her 79% .................. 511
hers 45%................. 511
herb (Herb) ............. 511
Herb (herb) ............. 511
herd 19% (heard).... 511
here 58% ................ 524
here’s 17%.............. 524
hire 14% (higher) .... 525
hired 11%................ 525
hoard....................... 533
hoard (horde).......... 516
hoarse (horse) ........ 518
horde (hoard).......... 516
horn 33% ................ 517
horns 34%............... 517
horse 37% (hoarse) 518
horses 29%............. 518
hour 25% (our/are).. 532
hours 24% (ours) .... 532
hurl.......................... 521
hurt 21% ................. 522
ire............................ 525
irk............................ 514
jar 40....................... 501
jars 22..................... 501
jeer.......................... 531
jerk.......................... 512
Jorge (George) ....... 517
Juan........................ 504
Karl (Carl) ............... 508
Kirk..........................514
Kurd (curd) ..............520
lair ...........................530
lard 29%..................505
large 21%................507
larger 24%...............507
largest 12% .............507
largely 5% ...............747
lark 21% ..................507
learn 18%................533
learned 6%..............533
learning 6% .............533
leer (Lear)................531
liar (lyre) ..................532
lord 39% (Lord) .......516
lore ..........................526
lurch ........................520
lure ..........................527
lurk ..........................521
lyre (liar) ..................525
mar 46%..................501
March 31% (march).505
march 38% (March).505
marched 12%..........505
mare (mayor)...........523
Marge ......................507
mark 33%................507
marks 29% ..............507
marked 17%............507
marl .........................508
marsh ......................509
mart .........................510
mere 9%..................524
merge ......................512
mire .........................525
mirth ........................515
moor........................532
more 58% (Moore) ..526
Mork ........................517
morn (mourn) ..........517
morning 50%...........517
Mort .........................519
mourn (morn) ..........517
mourn (morn) ..........534
narc .........................507
near 43%.................531
nearer 17%..............531
nearest 9%..............531
nerd .........................511
nerve 10%...............513
nerves 7% ...............513
nervous 1% .............513
nor 29%...................516
Norse.......................518
north 37%................519
northern 5%.............512
nurse 10%...............522
oar (or, ore) .............532
or 70%.....................516
orb ...........................516
ore (or) ....................526
Ork ..........................517
our 59% (are/hour) ..532

6. Almost Alphabetical
Index of Single Syllable -R & W- Controlled Words
ours 36% (hours).....532
pair 29% (pear, pare)530
pairs 20% ................530
par...........................501
parch .......................505
pare (pear, pair) ......523
park 60%.................507
parks 38% ...............507
parse .......................509
part 54%..................510
parts 37%................510
parted 19%..............510
partly 14% ...............510
pearl 2% (purl).........533
peer 4% (pier) .........531
per 22% (purr).........511
perch .......................511
perk .........................512
perm........................512
perp.........................513
pert..........................513
pier 4% (peer) .........531
pierce ......................534
poor 39% (pore, pour) 532
porch 20%...............516
pore (pour, poor) .....526
pork .........................517
port 32%..................519
pour 8% (pore, poor)..532
power 19% ..............532
powers 13% ............532
powerful 9% ............631
pure 16%.................527
purely 7% ................747
purge.......................521
purl (pearl)...............521
purr..........................520
purse 3%.................522
pyre .........................525
quad ........................504
quark .......................507
quart 8%..................502
quarter 5%...............502
quarters 4%.............502
quartz (quarts).........510
quash ......................504
queer 11%...............531
quirk ........................514
rare 9%....................523
rarely 1%.................523
rear 24%..................531
roar 12%..................532
scar .........................501
scarce 2% ...............509
scarcely 3%.............523
scare 13% ...............523
scared 5% ...............523
scarf 9% ..................507
scorch .....................516
score 10%............... 526
scorn 11%............... 517
scour....................... 532
scourge................... 521
sear (seer) .............. 531
search 2%............... 533
seer (sear) .............. 531
serf (surf) ................ 512
serge (surge) .......... 512
serve 7%................. 513
served 3%............... 513
serving 12%............ 513
service 3%.............. 513
shard....................... 505
share 8% ................ 523
shark....................... 507
sharp 20% .............. 508
sharpen 9% ............ 876
shear (sheer) .......... 531
sheer 8% (shear).... 531
shire........................ 525
shirk........................ 514
shirt 15%................. 515
shirts 10%............... 515
shore....................... 526
shorn....................... 517
short 28% ............... 519
shortly 13%............. 519
shower 18%............ 532
sir 38%.................... 514
sire.......................... 525
skirt 7%................... 515
slur.......................... 520
slurp........................ 521
smart 25% .............. 510
smear...................... 531
smirch..................... 514
smirk....................... 514
Smurf...................... 520
snare....................... 523
snark....................... 507
snarl........................ 508
sneer....................... 531
snore....................... 526
snort........................ 519
soar (sore) .............. 532
sore 25% (soar)...... 526
sort 41% ................. 519
sorts 13%................ 519
sour......................... 532
source 1%............... 518
spar......................... 501
spare 8% ................ 523
spark 25%............... 507
sparse..................... 509
spear 23% .............. 531
spears 9%............... 531
sperm...................... 512
spire........................ 525
splurge ....................521
spore .......................526
sport 36%................519
sports 17% ..............519
spur .........................520
spurn .......................521
spurt ........................522
squab ......................504
squad ......................504
square 3%...............523
squash.....................504
squat .......................504
squire ......................525
squirt .......................515
stair 12% (stare)......530
stairs 19% (stares) ..530
star 44%..................501
stars 47% ................501
starch ......................505
stare 16% (stair)......523
stark ........................507
start 36%.................510
starts 25% ...............510
started 30%.............510
starting 27% ............510
starve 8% ................509
steer 11%................531
stern ........................512
stir 12% ...................514
store 49%................526
stores 31% ..............526
stork ........................517
storm .......................517
suave.......................504
sure 27%.................528
surf (serf).................520
surge (serge)...........521
swab........................504
swamp.....................504
swan........................504
swap........................504
swarm......................502
Swart.......................510
swat.........................504
swatch.....................504
swath.......................504
swear 9% ................530
swirl.........................514
sword 6% (soared)..516
swore.......................526
tar 54%....................501
tare (tear) ................523
tarp..........................508
tart...........................510
tear (tare)................530
tear 17% (tier) .........531
tears 18% (tiers)......531
term 9%...................512
terms 8%................. 512
tern (turn)................ 512
terse........................ 512
their 16% (they’re, there)530
there 59% (they’re, their)524
there’ll ..................... 524
there’s 14%............. 524
they’re 4% (their, there) 523
third 26%................. 514
thirst........................ 515
Thor ........................ 516
thorn........................ 517
Thorpe .................... 518
thwart...................... 510
tier (tear) ................. 531
tire 31%(tyre) .......... 525
tires 15% (tyres)...... 525
tired 15%................. 525
torch........................ 516
tore 25% ................. 526
torn 29% ................. 517
tort........................... 519
tour 3% ................... 532
tower 19%............... 532
tsar (czar)................ 501
turf........................... 520
Turk......................... 521
turn 23% ................. 521
turns 15%................ 521
turned 21% ............. 521
turning 14%............. 521
twerp....................... 515
twirl ......................... 514
twirp ........................ 515
urge 3% .................. 521
urn (earn)................ 521
veer......................... 531
verb......................... 511
verge....................... 512
Vern ........................ 512
verse 5%................. 512
verses 5% (versus, vs.) 512
verve....................... 513
wad ......................... 504
waft ......................... 504
wan ......................... 504
wand ....................... 504
want 61%................ 504
wants 33% .............. 504
wanted 45%............ 504
wanting 43% ........... 504
war 26%.................. 502
ward........................ 502
ware (wear)............. 523
warm 41%............... 502
warmer 22%............ 502
warn 20% (worn)..... 502
warp........................ 502
wart......................... 502
wash 41%................504
washed 21%............504
washing 39%...........504
wasp........................504
watch 12%...............504
watched 5%.............504
watching 15%..........504
watt..........................504
wear (ware) .............530
weir..........................531
were 42% (we’re) ....524
weren’t 4% ..............524
we’re (were).............523
wharf .......................502
what 52% ................504
what’s 23%..............504
where 42% ..............524
where’ll ....................524
where’s....................524
where’ve..................524
whir..........................514
whirl 4%...................514
wire 17% .................525
wires 5%..................525
wired 18% ...............525
word 31% ................503
words 34% ..............503
wore ........................526
work 60% ................503
works 49%...............503
worked 35% ............503
working 54%............503
worker 36% .............503
workers 26% ...........503
world........................503
worm 14% ...............503
worms 22% .............503
worn 28% (warn) .....517
worse 3% ................503
worst 4% .................503
worth 8% .................503
worthy 2%................744
yard 36% .................505
yards 23% ...............505
yarn .........................508
year 59% .................531
years 45% ...............531
year’s 14% ..............531
yearn .......................533
yore .........................526
York.........................517
you’re 6% (your)......523
your 73% (you’re)....532
yours 48% ...............532
The percentages next to words that have them represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell
that word according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally
never found in any 3rd grade book.
6

7. The percentages next to words represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell that word
according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally never found
in any 3rd grade book.
7
Almost Alphabetical
Index of Single Syllable -R & W- Controlled Rimes
AR...........................501
bar
barred (bard)
car 92%
cars 81%
char
charred (chard)
czar (tsar)
far 64%
jar 40%
jars 22%
mar 46%
par
scar
spar
star 44%
stars 47%
tar 54%
tsar (czar)
-war- (-uar-) ............502
war 26%
ward
dwarf
wharf
warm 41%
warmer 22%
swarm
warn 20% (worn)
warp
wart
Swart
Swartz
thwart
quart 8%
quartz (quarts)
quarter 5%
quarters 4%
wor- ........................503
word 31%
words 34%
work 60%
worked 35%
worker 36%
workers 26%
working 54%
works 49%
world 32%
worm 14%
worms 22%
worse 3%
worst 4%
worth 8%
wa-(ua-) ..................504
Guam
Juan
quad
quash
squab
squad
squash
squat
suave
swab
swamp
swan
swap
swat
swatch
swath
wad
waft
wan
wand
want 61%
wanted 45%
wanting 43%
wants 33%
wash 41%
washed 21%
washing 39%
wasp
watch 12%
watched 5%
watching 15%
watt
what’s 23%
what 52%
arb.......................... 505
barb
garb
arch........................ 505
arch 13%
March 31% (march)
march 38% (March)
marched 12%
parch
starch
ard.......................... 505
bard (barred)
card 51%
cards 38%
chard (charred)
guard 4%
hard 50%
lard 29%
shard
yard 36%
yards 23%
arc/ark ................... 507
arc (ark)
narc
ark (arc)
bark 39%
dark 36%
hark
lark 21%
mark 33%
marked 17%
marks 29%
park 60%
parks 38%
quark
shark
snark
spark 25%
stark
arf............................507
arf
barf
scarf 9%
arge.........................507
barge
charge 11%
charged 9%
charges 9%
charging 10%
large 21%
larger 24%
largest 12%
Marge
arl............................508
Carl (Karl)
Karl (Carl)
marl
snarl
arm..........................508
arm 48%
arms 44%
charm 24%
charming 11%
farm 44%
farmer’s 17%
farmer 34%
farmers 28%
farming 36%
farms 41%
harm 40%
arn...........................508
barn 51%
darn
yarn
arp...........................508
carp
harp
sharp 20%
tarp
arce (EHR-ss).........509
scarce 2%
arce.........................509
farce
arse.........................509
parse
sparse
arsh.........................509
harsh
marsh
arve.........................509
carve
starve 8%
art............................510
Art (art)
art 40% (Art)
Bart
cart 40%
chart 22%
dart 24%
Garth
hart (heart)
heart 8% (hart)
hearts 7% (harts)
mart
part 54%
parted 19%
partly 14%
parts 37%
smart 25%
start 36%
started 30%
starting 27%
starts 25%
tart
er ............................ 511
her 79%
hers 45%
per 22% (purr)
erb .......................... 511
herb (Herb)
Herb (herb)
verb
erch perch .............. 511
erd .......................... 511
herd 19% (heard)
nerd
erf serf (surf)........... 512
erg berg (burg) ....... 512
erge merge............. 512
serge (surge)
verge
erk .......................... 512
clerk 12%
clerks 6%
jerk
perk
erm ......................... 512
germ
perm
sperm
term 9%
terms 8%
fern
northern 5%
stern
tern (turn)
Vern
erse ........................ 512
terse
verse 5%
verses 5% (versus, vs.)
ert ........................... 513
Bert (Burt)
pert
erth berth (birth) ..... 513
erve.........................513
nerve 10%
nerves 7%
nervous 1%
serve 7%
served 3%
service 3%
serving 12%
verve
ir..............................514
fir (fur)
sir 38%
stir 12%
whir
irch..........................514
birch
smirch
ird............................514
bird 66%
birds 52%
third 26%
irge dirge.................514
irk............................514
irk
Kirk
quirk
shirk
smirk
irl.............................514
girl’s 17%
girl 64%
girls’ 18%
girls 52%
swirl
twirl
whirl 4%
irth .........................515
birth 16% (berth)
girth
mirth
irm...........................515
firm 9%
firmly 3%
irp............................515
chirp
twirp
irst...........................515
first 32%
thirst
irt.............................515
dirt 17%
shirt 15%
shirts 10%
skirt 7%
squirt
or.............................516
for 78% (four, fore)

8. The percentages next to words represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell that word
according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally never found
in any 3rd grade book.
8
Almost Alphabetical
Index of Single Syllable -R & W- Controlled Rimes
nor 29%
or 70%
Thor
orch ........................516
porch 20%
scorch
torch
ord ..........................516
chord (cord, cored)
cord 20%
ford 52%
lord 39% (Lord)
sword 6% (soared)
oard ........................516
board 9% (bored)
hoard (horde)
orde horde (hoard)..516
orge ........................517
forge
George (Jorge)
gorge
Jorge (George)
ork ..........................517
cork
fork 36%
Mork
Ork
pork
stork
York
orm .........................517
form 36%
forms 16%
storm
orn ..........................517
born 35% (borne)
corn 48%
horn 33%
horns 34%
morn (mourn)
morning 50%
scorn 11%
shorn
thorn
torn 29%
worn 28% (warn)
oarse ......................518
coarse 4% (course)
hoarse (horse)
ourse ......................518
course 9% (coarse)
orse ........................518
horse 37% (hoarse)
horses 29%
Norse
orce ........................518
force 9%
forced 2%
source 1%
orpse corpse ..........518
ort........................... 519
fort 24%
Mort
port 32%
short 28%
shortly 13%
snort
sort 41%
sorts 13%
sport 36%
sports 17%
tort
orth......................... 519
forth 23% (fourth)
north 37%
ur............................ 520
blur
cur
fur 35%
furs 18%
slur
spur
burr
purr
urb.......................... 520
blurb
curb
urb
urch........................ 520
church 18%
churches 5%
lurch
urd.......................... 520
curd (Kurd)
Kurd (curd)
urf........................... 520
Smurf
surf (serf)
turf
urg burg (berg) ....... 520
urge........................ 521
purge
scourge
splurge
surge (serge)
urge 3%
urk.......................... 521
lurk
Turk
url........................... 521
curl 12%
furl
hurl
purl (pearl)
urn.......................... 521
urn (earn)
burn 11%
burned 11%
burning 18%
burnt 14%
churn
spurn
turn 23%
turned 21%
turning 14%
turns 15%
urp ..........................521
burp
slurp
urse.........................522
curse
nurse 10%
purse 3%
urst .........................522
curst
burst 6%
urt ...........................522
blurt
Burt
curt
hurt 21%
spurt
urve curve 18%.......522
are (“AH’r”) ............523
are 77%
aren’t 12%
they’re 4% (their, there)
we’re (were)
you’re 6% (your)
are (“EHR”) ............523
bare 10% (bear)
blare
care 41%
cares 22%
cared 14%
careful 10%
careless 7%
carefully 4%
dare 11%
fare 15% (fair)
flare (flair)
glare
hare (hair)
mare (mayor)
pare (pear, pair)
rare 9%
rarely 1%
scarcely 3%
scare 13%
scared 5%
share 8%
snare
spare 8%
square 3%
stare 16% (stair)
tare (tear)
ware (wear)
ere (“EE’r”).............524
here’s 17% ....................
here 58%.......................
mere 9%
ere (“EHR”) ............524
there 59% (they’re, their)
there’ll
there’s 14%
where 42%
where’ll
where’s
where’ve
ere (“UR”) .............. 524
were 42% (we’re)
weren’t 4%
ire .......................... 525
ire
dire
fire 52%
fires 36%
hire 14% (higher)
hired 11%
mire
shire
sire
spire
squire
tire 31%(tyre)
tired 15%
tires 15% (tyres)
wire 17%
wired 18%
wires 5%
yre........................... 525
lyre (liar)
pyre
tyre (tire)
ore .......................... 526
ore (or)
bore 13% (boar)
bored (4%)
chore
chores 7%
core
fore (for, four)
gore
gored (gourd)
lore
more 58% (Moore)
pore (pour, poor)
score 10%
shore
snore
sore 25% (soar)
spore
store 49%
stores 31%
swore
tore 25%
wore
yore
ure .......................... 527
cure 8%
during 15%
lure
pure 16%
sure 27%
air............................530
air 59% (heir)
chair 38%
chairs 23%
fair (fare)
fairly 17%
hair 40%
hairs 26%
lair
pair 29% (pear, pare)
pairs 20% (pears, pares)
stair 12% (stare)
stairs 19% (stares)
ear (“EHR)..............530
wear (ware)
swear 9%
tear (tare)
eir (“EHR)...............530
their 16% (they’re, there)
eer...........................531
beer (bier)
cheer 27%
cheering 11%
deer 44% (dear)
jeer
leer (Lear)
peer 4% (pier)
queer 11%
seer (sear)
sheer 8% (shear)
sneer
steer 11%
veer
ear...........................531
clear 19%
cleared 9%
clearing 19%
clearly 7%
dear 66% (deer)
dearest 18%
ear 50%
ears 45%
fear 38%
fears 19%
gear
hear 57% (here)
hearing 24%
near 43%
nearer 17%
nearest 9%
rear 24%
sear (seer)
shear (sheer)
smear
spear 23%
spears 9%
tear 17% (tier)
tears 18% (tiers)
year 59%
years 45%
year’s 14%

9. Almost Alphabetical
Index of Single Syllable -R & W- Controlled Rimes
The percentages next to words represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell that word
according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally never found
in any 3rd grade book.
ier............................531
bier
pier 4% (peer)
tier (tear)
iar liar (lyre).............532
oar ..........................532
boar (bore)
oar (or, ore)
roar 12%
soar (sore)
our (“OH’r) ..............532
four 42%
fourth 17% (forth)
pour 8% (pore, poor)
your 73% (you’re)
yours 48%
oor (“OH’r”)............. 532
door 64%
doors 58%
floor 31%
floors 19%
oor.......................... 532
boor
moor
poor 39% (pore, pour)
our (“OO’r”)............. 532
tour 3%
pour (poor)
our (“OW!’r”)............532
flour 14% (flower)
hour 25% (our/are)
hours 24% (ours)
our 59% (are/hour)
ours 36% (hours)
scour
sour
ower (“OW!’r”).........532
flower 35% (flour)
flowers 38%
glower
power 19%
powers 13%
shower 18%
tower 19%
earch (“UR-ch”) ...... 533
search 2%
eard (“EE’rd”).......... 533
beard 21%
eard (“UR’d”) .......... 533
heard 15% (herd)
earth (“UR’th”) ........ 533
earth 21%
dearth
earn (“UR’n”) .......... 533
earn 13% (urn)
earned 3%
yearn
learn 18%
learned 6%
learning 6%
earl..........................533
earl (Earl)
pearl 2% (purl)
ourt .........................534
court 5%
courts 6%
ierce........................534
fierce 2%
pierce
A few more examples of
-r, w- & w- r controlled
single syllable based words with a simple suffix added.
care 41%.................523
careless 7% ..........1066
careful 10% .............630
carefully 4%.............749
cheer 27%...............531
cheerful 9% .............630
fear 38%..................531
fearful 9%................631
power 19%.............. 532
powerful 9%............ 631
far 64% ................... 501
farther 18%............. 646
hard 50% ................ 505
harder 27%............. 655
hardest 12% ........... 655
heart 8%..................510
hearty 3%................755
heartily 1% ..............715
worth 8% .................503
worthy 2% ...............744
large 21%................507
largely 5% ...............747
pure 16% ................ 527
purely 7%................ 747
arms 44%................ 508
army 26%................ 754
dirt 17%................... 515
dirty 13%................. 755
early 22% ................760
earlier 7%................760
earliest 2% ..............760
sharp 20%...............508
sharpen 9%.............876
A Few Observations
The following are the only -r controlled words that over two thirds of 3rd graders can correctly
spell: Note that not a single w- controlled word or w-r controlled word made the list. Nor did any
-r controlled word that began with either a consonant blend or consonant digraph. Only one
plural form made the list. Surely, if phonics is being taught correctly and intensively in the first
two grades, you would expect more than 5 words out more than 600 single syllable mostly
phonically regular words to be correctly spelled.. Something must be radically wrong with our
teaching of reading and spelling in the first two grades!
car (92%) cars 81%
for (78%) are (77%)
your (73%)
9

10. The following are the only -r & w- controlled words that over half but less than two thirds of 3rd
graders can correctly spell:
bird (66%) ..........dear (66%)
girl (64%) ............far (64%)
door (64%) ..........want(61%)
work (60%) ......... park (60%)
there (59%)air (59%)
year (59%) ........... our (59%)
doors (58%) .........here (58%)
more (58%) ..........hear (57%)
ford (52%) ........ birds (52%)
fire (52%) .........girls (52%)
card (51%) ......... barn (51%)
When only a total of 27 out of over 600 phonically regular -R controlled, W- controlled and W-
& -R controlled words can be spelled by more than 50% of our third graders, something is
terribly wrong.
If it is true that the 10% of 3rd graders who can spell the word nerve are gifted, wouldn’t you
think that more than 10% of these gifted could drop a silent e and add -ous to make nervous! Of
course, they could. If they were taught! But as is, only 1% of all 3rd graders can spell nervous.
If 41% can spell care, you would think that at least 75% of these students could add the -ful
suffix to spell careful. But no, only 25% of those who could spell care could add -ful. That is
only 10% of all third graders could spell careful. The “gifted” ones! Now, you would think that
gifted 3rd graders could add -ly to careful and end up spelling carefully. But no, only 40% of
the “gifted” could do that. That is, only 4% of 3rd graders could spell carefully.
The percentages next to words represent the number of 3rd grade students who can correctly spell that word
according to The New Iowa Spelling Scale. Those words without a percentage after them are generally never found
in any 3rd grade book.
10

11. AH'r far ............ 501
bizarre ..... 501
AH'r'b barb ......... 505
AH'r'bee Barbie;...... 505
R.B. .......... 739 AH'r-th Garth ........ 510
AH'r'bul marble ...... 608
AH'r'bur Garber...... 505
harbor....... 505
AH'r'burd barbered... 505
harbored... 505
starboard.. 505
See "UR'd" entry
AH'r'ch march ....... 505
AH'r'cheeArchie....... 505
starchy...... 505
AH'r'chur archer....... 505
AH'r-d yard .......... 505
barred....... 501
AH'r-dee tardy ......... 505
AH'r-dur harder....... 505
AH'r-f scarf ......... 507
AH'r-j charge ...... 507
AH'r-jee Margie ...... 507
AH'r-jist largest ...... 507
AH'r-jiz barges ...... 507
AH'r-jur charger..... 507
AH'r-k park .......... 507
AH'r-k-ssmarks ....... 507
Marx ......... 507
arcs .......... 507
AH'r-kul sparkle...... 507
AH'r-kur barker....... 507
AH'r-l Carl........... 508
AH'r-lur parlor........ 508
AH'r-m arm........... 508
AH'r-mur armor........ 508
farmer....... 508
AH'r-n darn.......... 508
AH'r-nishvarnish...... 508
AH'r-nur garner....... 508
AH'r-p harp.......... 508
AH'r-pee sharpie ..... 508
AH'r-pin sharpen .... 508
AH'r-pit carpet ....... 508
AH'r-sh harsh ........ 509
AH'r-shul marshal .... 509
martial ...... 509
Mr. Marshall.... 509
AH'r-ss arse .......... 509
farce ......... 509
AH'r slee parsley...... 509
sparsely.... 509
AH'r-t art............. 510
AH'r-tee party ......... 510
hearty ....... 510
AH'r-tid parted ....... 510
big-hearted. 510 5105105 course....... 518
hearth ....... 510
AH'r-tul startle........ 510
AH'r-tur charter ...... 510
AH'r-v carve......... 507
AH'r-vul marvel....... 507
AH'r-z bars .......... 501
bazaar's.... 501
EHR fair ............ 530
fare ........... 523
their .......... 530
wear.......... 530
solitaire..... 530
derriere..... 941
EHR ee fairy........... 530
ferry .......... 530
Mary ......... 530
marry ........ 530
EHR-ss scarce....... 523
OH'r or .............. 526
ore ............ 526
oar ............ 526
four ........... 526
war............ 502
**corps**... 537
OH'r-b absorb ...... 516
OH'r-ch torch ......... 516
OH'r-d warred ...... 502
ward.......... 502
ford ........... 516
bored ........ 526
board ........ 533
OH'r-did warded ..... 502
forded ....... 516
hoarded .... 533
sordid........ 161
OH'r'dee Gordy........ 516
OH'r dur border....... 516
boarder..... 533
OH'r-f wharf......... 502
OH'r-k fork ........... 517
OH'r-m form .......... 517
warm......... 502
OH'r-n warn.......... 502
corn .......... 526
Hawthorne 526
OH'r-p warp.......... 502
Thorpe...... 517
OH'rp'ss warps........ 502
corpse ...... 507
OH'r-ss horse ........ 518
hoarse ...... 518
force ......... 518
source....... 518
OH'r-t wart........... 502
port ........... 519
torte .......... 519
OH'r-th forth .......... 519
fourth ........ 519
OH'r-ts quarts ....... 502
quartz ....... 502
sports........ 519
EE'r near .......... 531
beer .......... 531
bier ........... 531
here .......... 531
EE'r-ss fierce......... 534
YH'r liar............. 532
lyre............ 532
fire ............ 525
higher ....... 308
OO'r poor .......... 532
lure .......... 527
firm............515
pure ......... 527
UR'n learn..........533
saboteur . 527
tour .......... 527
turn ...........521
UR were.......... 524
altar .......... 673
alter .......... 650
sir.............. 514
color.......... 676
colour........ 682
fur ............. 520
UR'b curb .......... 520
UR'ch church....... 520
perch ........ 511
search....... 533
Birch ......... 514
UR'd standard ... 506
herd .......... 511
heard ........ 533
bird ........... 514
word.......... 503
curd .......... 520
collared..... 673
papered658-72
inferred ..... 511
chauffeured .. 681
stirred ....... 514
labored ..... 680
laboured ... 682
euchred .... 683
occurred....520
measured527-9
UR did forwarded..506
herded ......511
girded........514
worded......503
URD'z standards..506
UR dul hurdle........608
girdle.........608
UR'f turf ............520
UR'g burg ..........520
berg ..........512
UR'j urge ..........521
scourge.....521
dirge..........514
UR'k clerk..........512
smirk.........514
work..........503
lurk............521
UR'l girl.............514
curl............521
pearl..........533
UR'm germ .........512
concern.....512
UR'p twirp..........515
burp ..........521
UR-ss curse.........522
worse........503
hearse.......534
UR's-t burst..........522
thirst..........515
Hearst.......534
worst.........503
UR't Bert...........513
dirt.............515
Burt...........522
UR't-ss Hertz.........522
squirts.......515
Bert's.........513
Curt's ........522
UR'th worth.........503
earth .........533
birth...........515
URV curve.........522
swerve ......513
YH'r fire.............525
higher........308
501A
11