How to spell immediately
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
immediately
I-M-M-E-D-I-A-T-E-L-Y
The part to watch: immediate + ly, keeping the e. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Immediately is immediate + ly. The e of immediate stays, but quick speech hides it, so people write "immediatly".
Immediately is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with the -ly ending. Most of these words are made by adding -ly to a root word. Spell the root first, then add -ly. A root ending in -le swaps the -le for -ly, as probable becomes probably.
The root, immediate, ends in e, and the e stays before -ly.
Common mistakes with immediately
- Wrong: immediatlyRight: immediately
- Wrong: imediatelyRight: immediately
A way to remember it
Write immediate, all of it, then add ly.
Immediately in syllables
im · me · di · ate · ly
Immediately has 5 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
Come inside immediately, it is starting to pour.
Immediately on the statutory list
Immediately is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England, printed there as immediate(ly). Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
From the same entry
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with immediately, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the -ly ending
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as immediately.
More words
Questions parents ask
Which other words keep their e before -ly?
Completely, extremely, lately and sincerely all keep the e, just as immediately does.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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