Long E Spellings: E, EE, EA, EY, and Y

There are many options for spelling words with /ē/. However, there is not always a rule for determining which long /ē/ spellings to use. This is true with many English sounds spelled multiple ways; however, there are often patterns for which spelling is more common that make it easier. 

Y spelling /ē/ at the end of words

The phonogram y spelling /ē/ at the end of words is the most common. Thousands of words end in the long /ē/ sound spelled with a single-vowel

baby candy pretty copy every worry
many city memory angry tiny jelly

E Says /ē/ at the End of the Syllable

me she he  fe ver ve gan re cess
ve to e go  E gypt  re ci pe sim i le ca tas tro phe

Should I spell with EA or EE?

Both ea and ee may be used at the beginning, middle, and end of words. 

ea phonogram

eat meal sea feat real seat
meat cheap squeak wreath please beaver

ee phonogram

see feet reel eel agree keep
beef meet three agree coffee employee

What about the phonogram EY?

There are only a few common words spelled with ey and pronounced /ē/

key valley hockey honey monkey turkey

A few other spellings of /ē/

ie the /ē/ of field

niece grief chief thief cookie calorie

i at the end of foreign loan words

broccoli spaghetti chili cannoli aioli tortellini

During spelling analysis, it is necessary to cue students on which spelling of /ē/ to use. Once students learn the phonograms and spelling rules, the words with sounds that have more than one option for spelling permitted by the rules are one area that requires more practice and time to memorize and internalize the spelling patterns.