1. Overview of the '-dge' Spelling Rule

Students learn early on that 'j' makes the /j/ sound. By this point, they may have also learned that 'g' can make the /j/ sound when it's followed by 'e', 'i', or 'y', like in gel or gym. 

Now it's time to teach another important letter combination that makes the same sound: '-dge', like in badge and judge. 

Here's what the '-dge' spelling rule says: 

Immediately after a short vowel and at the end of a one-syllable word, you spell /j/ with 'd', 'g', 'e'. 

(Print a copy of this rule (opens in new window) for your students or to display in your classroom.)

When introducing this rule, you can tell students that they will never find 'j' at the end of an English word. Therefore, when they hear /j/ at the end of a short vowel, one-syllable word, they should spell it '-dge'. 

The '-dge' rule is one of four short vowel spelling rules. The other three are '-ck', FLoSS(z), and '-tch', and each one has its own skill explainer. We typically introduce '-ck' and FLoSS(z) first because they follow a more straightforward pattern. We introduce '-dge and '-tch' later because they have more exceptions and require more decision making during spelling. 

A student-friendly chant that can help your students remember the '-dge' rule is: "Immediately after a short vowel, at the end of a one-syllable word, spell /j/ … 'd', 'g', 'e'!"

Watch teacher Marlene Gannaway of Burgess-Peterson Academy in Atlanta say the chant with her students.

Reminders on When to Use '-dge' vs. '-ge'

After teaching the '-dge' spelling rule, it's important to also teach students how to spell the /j/ sound at the end of a word when it doesn't come right after a short vowel in a one-syllable word.   

Students will use '-ge', not '-dge', at the end of a word when the /j/ sound is: 

• Immediately following 'l' or 'n', like in bulge or lunge. We call 'l' and 'n' "blockers." Without the blocker there, the 'e' would be a magic 'e' and the vowel would be long.
• Immediately after a long vowel or r-controlled vowel sound, like in page or merge.

After teaching the '-dge' spelling rule and providing students with lots of practice spelling words with '-dge', you'll want to start mixing in words that are spelled with '-ge'. This will give students opportunities to make that spelling decision — '-dge' or '-ge' — based on the sound's position in the word.