ou VS. ow

[EJCMom]

What is the rule for when to use the ou vowel pair versus the ow vowel pair? Does anyone know?

[nukeswife]

The only thing I'm aware of is that you don't use OU at the end of english words.

[Ellie]

ou has four sounds; ow has only two. The only rule is, as nukeswife said, that ou is never used at the end of a word (except for two or three exceptions--you, thou, impromptu, which isn't an English word, so there you go, lol).

[Saddlemomma]

We just had this pair last week in spelling. Here are the rules:

 

1. Use ou at the beginning or in the middle of a word unless the /ou/ sound is followed by a single n, l, er, or el; then use ow.

2. Use ow at the end of a word for the /ou/ sound.

 

Exceptions to the general rules: powder, coward, crowd, chowder, foul

 

Hope this helps!

[Kalmia]

Saddlemomma,

 

Which spelling program are you using? I haven't seen this rule so detailed in the three I have. Thanks.

[blondeviolin]

Saddlemomma,

 

Which spelling program are you using? I haven't seen this rule so detailed in the three I have. Thanks.

 

This rule comes from How to Teach Spelling. It's a nice to companion to have because it is so comprehensive.

[Lori D.]

BTW: The ABCs and All Their Their Tricksis a super resource for understanding spelling patterns.

 

 

OU

1. Almost always used in the middle of a syllable (trout; a•bout; ac•count•ant)

exceptions: you, thou

 

2. OU has a number of sounds:

- "ow" (as in trout)

- "oo" (as in soup, or wound)

- long "o" (as in four, or shoul•der)

- long "o" when it is the team of "ough" (as in though)

- short "u" (as in young, or coup•le)

- short "u" when part of the ending of "-ous" (ner•vous; co•pi•ous; du•bi•ous)

- short "u" when it is part of the team of "ough" (as in rough)

- the "er" sound when it is part of the team of "-our" (as in jour•ney)

 

 

OW

1. Mostly used at the end of a syllable (pow•der; how•it•zer) or end of a word (plow)

exceptions: some words that end in "n" (clown); "d" (crowd); "l" (fowl); "el" (towel); "er" (flow•er) -- in these cases, the "n", "d", "l", "el", or "er" immediately follows the "ow".

 

2. OW has two sounds

- "ow" (as in plow, or chow•der)

- long "o" (as in snow, or spar•row)

[Saddlemomma]

Saddlemomma,

 

Which spelling program are you using? I haven't seen this rule so detailed in the three I have. Thanks.

 

 

I'm using "How To Teach Spelling" by Laura Toby Rudginsky & Elizabeth C. Haskell; publisher is Educators Publishing Service (Teacher's Manual)

Then I'm using the "How To Spell Workbook #3".

[Dana]

BTW: The ABCs and All Their Their Tricksis a super resource for understanding spelling patterns.

 

 

 

I like how they list the exceptions! That's been helpful.