How to spell suggest
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
suggest
S-U-G-G-E-S-T
The part to watch: a double g. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Suggest has a double g, although quick speech can make it sound like one.
Suggest is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a double letter at the start. Many long words begin ac, ag, ap, at, com, cor, im, oc, op, suf or sug with a doubled consonant. Most began as a prefix joined to a root, and the letter doubled where the two met.
Common mistakes with suggest
- Wrong: sugestRight: suggest
- Wrong: suggetsRight: suggest
A way to remember it
Say it slowly as "sug-gest" to hear both g letters: the first ends "sug" and the second starts "gest".
Suggest in syllables
sug · gest
Suggest has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
I suggest we take an umbrella.
Suggest on the statutory list
Suggest is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with suggest, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a double letter at the start
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as suggest.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell suggestion?
Suggestion is suggest + ion. It keeps the double g.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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