-ing Spelling Rules
Master the four spelling patterns for adding -ing: dropping a silent -e, doubling a stressed final consonant, changing -ie to -y, and when NOT to double the consonant.
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She is ___ a cake for the party.
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making
Verbs ending in a silent -e drop it before -ing: 'make' → 'making'.
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The children are ___ around in the garden.
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running
One vowel + one consonant at the end doubles before -ing: 'run' → 'running'.
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There's an injured bird ___ on the ground.
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lying
'Lie' changes -ie to -y before -ing: 'lying'. 'Laying' comes from 'lay' (to put something down).
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Why are you ___ on the floor? Take a chair!
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sitting
One vowel + one consonant at the end doubles before -ing: 'sit' → 'sitting'.
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The assistant is ___ the shop for the day.
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opening
'Open' is stressed on the first syllable, so the -n does not double: 'opening'.
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She is ___ an important email to her boss.
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writing
Verbs ending in a silent -e drop it before -ing: 'write' → 'writing'.
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He is ___ to learn the guitar this year.
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beginning
'Begin' is stressed on the last syllable, so the -n doubles: 'beginning'.
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The children are ___ in the lake — it's a hot day.
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swimming
One vowel + one consonant at the end doubles before -ing: 'swim' → 'swimming'.
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The temperature is ___ quickly — winter is on its way.
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dropping
One vowel + one consonant at the end doubles before -ing: 'drop' → 'dropping'.
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The sun is ___ brightly — let's go to the beach.
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shining
Verbs ending in a silent -e drop it before -ing: 'shine' → 'shining'.
-ing Spelling Rules: The Four Patterns
Adding -ing to a verb looks simple until the base form ends in a letter combination that would otherwise create an awkward or misleading spelling, which is why English applies four systematic adjustments. Getting these rules automatic matters beyond the present continuous — the same -ing form appears in the past continuous, present perfect continuous, and gerunds, so a spelling error here repeats across every tense that uses it. Analysis of learner writing shows that doubling errors — forgetting to double a stressed final consonant, or wrongly doubling an unstressed one — are the most persistent spelling mistake in this category, because the rule depends on syllable stress, something spelling alone doesn't show.
Rule 1: Drop a Silent Final -e
When a verb ends in an unpronounced -e, that -e is dropped before adding -ing: make → making, write → writing, shine → shining. Without dropping the e, the spelling would create an incorrect double vowel pattern.
She is writing an important email to her boss.
The sun is shining brightly — let's go to the beach.
Rule 2: Double a Stressed Final Consonant
When a verb has a single syllable, or ends in a stressed syllable, that follows the pattern one-vowel-plus-one-consonant, the final consonant doubles before -ing: run → running, sit → sitting, swim → swimming, drop → dropping, begin → beginning (stress falls on the second syllable, 'be-GIN'). Crucially, this doubling does NOT happen when the final syllable is unstressed: open → opening (stress on 'O-pen', not the second syllable).
Why are you sitting on the floor? (single syllable, doubles)
He is beginning to learn the guitar this year. (stress on final syllable, doubles)
The assistant is opening the shop for the day. (stress on first syllable, no doubling)
Rule 3: Change -ie to -y
A small group of verbs ending in -ie change that ending to -y before adding -ing, avoiding an awkward three-vowel-letter cluster: lie → lying, die → dying, tie → tying.
Common Mistakes
✗ The children are runing around. → ✓ The children are running around. (stressed CVC doubles)
✗ The assistant is openning the shop. → ✓ The assistant is opening the shop. (unstressed syllable — never doubles)
✗ There's a bird lieing on the ground. → ✓ ...a bird lying on the ground. (-ie changes to -y)
Last updated: · Satori Editorial