Words with -fer: the stress-and-doubling rule in action
Year group: 5/6
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Years 5–6
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Years 5–6 guide to words with the -fer root — when the r doubles before a suffix, statutory examples, and practice activities.
The rule
Words ending in -fer show the stress-based doubling rule (introduced at Y3/4) in its clearest form. When you add a vowel suffix:
Double the r if the stress STAYS on -fer in the new word
Do NOT double the r if the stress SHIFTS away from -fer
Examples
| Base | Suffix | Stress in new word | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| refer | -ing | re-FER-ring (stress stays) | referring |
| refer | -al | REF-er-al (stress shifts) | referral |
| refer | -ence | REF-er-ence (stress shifts) | reference |
| prefer | -ed | pre-FER-red (stress stays) | preferred |
| prefer | -ing | pre-FER-ring (stress stays) | preferring |
| prefer | -ence | PREF-er-ence (stress shifts) | preference |
| prefer | -able | PREF-er-able (stress shifts) | preferable |
| transfer | -ed | trans-FER-red (stress stays) | transferred |
| transfer | -ing | trans-FER-ring (stress stays) | transferring |
| transfer | -ence | TRANS-fer-ence (stress shifts) | transference |
| infer | -ed | in-FER-red (stress stays) | inferred |
| infer | -ence | IN-fer-ence (stress shifts) | inference |
| confer | -ed | con-FER-red (stress stays) | conferred |
| confer | -ence | CON-fer-ence (stress shifts) | conference |
| differ | -ed | DIF-fered (stress on first — no double) | differed |
| differ | -ence | DIF-fer-ence (stress on first) | difference |
| offer | -ed | OF-fered (stress on first) | offered |
| suffer | -ing | SUF-fering (stress on first) | suffering |
| buffer | -ed | BUF-fered (stress on first) | buffered |
The key test
Say the new word aloud. Where is the stress?
- re-FER-ring — stress on -fer → double the r → referring
- REF-er-ence — stress moved to front → no double → reference
This is the same test as Y3/4 multisyllable doubling — the -fer words are simply the clearest and most memorable examples of it.
Word family web
PREFER ├── preferred (double r — stress stays) ├── preferring (double r — stress stays) ├── preference (no double — stress shifts) └── preferable (no double — stress shifts) REFER ├── referred (double r) ├── referring (double r) ├── referral (no double — stress shifts) └── reference (no double — stress shifts) CONFERENCE comes from confer → conferred / conferring / conference
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| refering | referring | stress stays on -fer → double |
| referrence | reference | stress shifts → no double |
| prefered | preferred | stress stays on -fer → double |
| prefrence | preference | stress shifts → no double (but also missing e) |
| transfered | transferred | stress stays on -fer → double |
| infered | inferred | stress stays on -fer → double |
Dictation sentences
- The conference was attended by everyone who had been referred by a colleague.
- She preferred the original but accepted that preference was a personal matter.
- The inference from the data was clear even before the results were fully transferred.
- He was referred to the specialist after the doctor had inferred a more complex cause.
- Referring to her notes, she summarised the main points of the conference.
Classroom questions
- Say referring aloud. Where is the stress? Why does that mean we double the r?
- Say reference aloud. Where is the stress now? Why does that mean we do NOT double?
- Differ, offer, and suffer do not double when you add -ed or -ing. Why not?
- Can you work out whether conferred or conference doubles the r? Say them aloud first.
Links to other rules
- Y3/4 rule 10: multisyllable doubling — this is the same rule; -fer words demonstrate it most clearly
- difference → revisit Y5/6 rule 03: -ent/-ence/-ency (no -ation form → -ence)
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). The -fer rule is explicitly cited in the Years 5–6 statutory content. All examples verified against standard British English usage.