Hard and Soft C and G Worksheets 4th Grade

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Made at homeroomtools.comWord boxSort the words of the word box. Write each word under its heading.Spelling: sort by listList 1: soft c, ceList 2: hard c, ca co cuList 3: both sounds of ccornercottoniciclecabinconceptceleryconcernconcealcamelcertaincentralcelebratecellarcirclecustom
Made at homeroomtools.comSort the words of the word box. Write each word under its heading.Spelling: sort by listAnswer keyList 1: soft c, ceList 2: hard c, ca co cuList 3: both sounds of ccentralcellarcelebratecelerycertaincabincornercottoncamelcustomconcealconcerniciclecircleconcept
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15 words from 3 lists, sort by list, on 1 page and 1 page of answers, Letter portrait.

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The spelling lists

List 1: soft c, ce 8

  • celebrate In celebrate the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • celery In celery the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • cell In cell the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • cellar In cellar the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • cent In cent the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • central In central the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • century In century the c comes before e, so it says s.
  • certain In certain the c comes before e, so it says s.

List 2: hard c, ca co cu 8

  • cabin In cabin the c comes before a, so it says k.
  • camel In camel the c comes before a, so it says k.
  • candle In candle the c comes before a, so it says k.
  • copper In copper the c comes before o, so it says k.
  • corner In corner the c comes before o, so it says k.
  • cotton In cotton the c comes before o, so it says k.
  • cuddle In cuddle the c comes before u, so it says k.
  • custom In custom the c comes before u, so it says k.
Show all 128 words (112 more)

List 3: both sounds of c 8

  • bicycle Bicycle has both sounds: the c before y says s, and the c before l says k.
  • circle Circle has both sounds: the c before i says s, and the c before l says k.
  • circus Circus has both sounds: the c before i says s, and the c before u says k.
  • conceal Conceal has both sounds: the c before o says k, and the c before e says s.
  • concept Concept has both sounds: the c before o says k, and the c before e says s.
  • concern Concern has both sounds: the c before o says k, and the c before e says s.
  • concert Concert has both sounds: the c before o says k, and the c before e says s.
  • icicle Icicle has both sounds: the c before i says s, and the c before l says k.

List 4: soft c, ci 8

  • acid In acid the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • cider In cider the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • cinder In cinder the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • cinnamon In cinnamon the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • decide In decide the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • medicine In medicine the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • recipe In recipe the c comes before i, so it says s.
  • stencil In stencil the c comes before i, so it says s.

List 5: hard c, cl cr -c 8

  • attic In attic the c is the last letter, so it says k.
  • clever In clever the c comes before l, so it says k.
  • climb In climb the c comes before l, so it says k.
  • crumb In crumb the c comes before r, so it says k.
  • fabric In fabric the c is the last letter, so it says k.
  • insect In insect the c comes before t, so it says k.
  • music In music the c is the last letter, so it says k.
  • picnic Both c's in picnic say k: one before n and one at the end.

List 6: soft c, cy 8

  • cylinder In cylinder the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • cymbal In cymbal the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • fancy In fancy the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • icy In icy the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • juicy In juicy the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • mercy In mercy the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • policy In policy the c comes before y, so it says s.
  • spicy In spicy the c comes before y, so it says s.

List 7: soft c, -ce 8

  • dance In dance the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • fence In fence the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • juice In juice the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • ounce In ounce the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • price In price the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • prince In prince the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • slice In slice the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.
  • voice In voice the c comes before a silent e at the end, so it says s.

List 8: cc says ks 8

  • accelerate In accelerate the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • accent In accent the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • accept In accept the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • access In access the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • accident In accident the first c says k and the second, before i, says s: together ks.
  • eccentric In eccentric the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • succeed In succeed the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.
  • success In success the first c says k and the second, before e, says s: together ks.

List 9: soft g, ge 8

  • gel In gel the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • gelatin In gelatin the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • gem In gem the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • generate In generate the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • gentleman In gentleman the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • gently In gently the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • geranium In geranium the g comes before e, so it says j.
  • germinate In germinate the g comes before e, so it says j.

List 10: hard g, ga go gu 8

  • gallop In gallop the g comes before a, so it is hard, as in go.
  • garden In garden the g comes before a, so it is hard, as in go.
  • gather In gather the g comes before a, so it is hard, as in go.
  • goblin In goblin the g comes before o, so it is hard, as in go.
  • golden In golden the g comes before o, so it is hard, as in go.
  • goldfish In goldfish the g comes before o, so it is hard, as in go.
  • gossip In gossip the g comes before o, so it is hard, as in go.
  • gutter In gutter the g comes before u, so it is hard, as in go.

List 11: both sounds of g 8

  • baggage Baggage has both sounds: the double g before a is hard, and the g before the last e says j.
  • engage Engage has both sounds: the g before a is hard, and the g before the last e says j.
  • gadget Gadget has both sounds: the g before a is hard, and the g before e says j.
  • garbage Garbage has both sounds: the g before a is hard, and the g before the last e says j.
  • geography Geography has both sounds: the g before e says j, and the g before r is hard.
  • gorgeous Gorgeous has both sounds: the g before o is hard, and the g before e says j.
  • language Language has both sounds: the g before u is hard, and the g before the last e says j.
  • luggage Luggage has both sounds: the double g before a is hard, and the g before the last e says j.

List 12: soft g, gi gy 8

  • allergy In allergy the g comes before y, so it says j.
  • digit In digit the g comes before i, so it says j.
  • energy In energy the g comes before y, so it says j.
  • engine In engine the g comes before i, so it says j.
  • giant In giant the g comes before i, so it says j.
  • giraffe In giraffe the g comes before i, so it says j.
  • gymnasium In gymnasium the g comes before y, so it says j.
  • region In region the g comes before i, so it says j.

List 13: hard g, gl gr -g 8

  • flag In flag the g is the last letter, so it is hard.
  • frog In frog the g is the last letter, so it is hard.
  • glitter In glitter the g comes before l, so it is hard.
  • glove In glove the g comes before l, so it is hard.
  • gravel In gravel the g comes before r, so it is hard.
  • grumble In grumble the g comes before r, so it is hard.
  • shrug In shrug the g is the last letter, so it is hard.
  • twig In twig the g is the last letter, so it is hard.

List 14: soft g, -ge -dge 8

  • average In average the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • bridge In bridge the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • huge In huge the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • manage In manage the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • orange In orange the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • ridge In ridge the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • sausage In sausage the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.
  • wedge In wedge the g comes before a silent e at the end, so it says j.

List 15: hard g, ge gi 8

  • begin Begin breaks the rule: its g comes before i and is still hard.
  • gear Gear breaks the rule: its g comes before e and is still hard.
  • geese Geese breaks the rule: its g comes before e and is still hard.
  • get Get breaks the rule: its g comes before e and is still hard.
  • gift Gift breaks the rule: its g comes before i and is still hard.
  • girl Girl breaks the rule: its g comes before i and is still hard.
  • give Give breaks the rule: its g comes before i and is still hard.
  • tiger Tiger breaks the rule: its g comes before e and is still hard.

List 16: gu keeps g hard 8

  • disguise In disguise the u is silent: it stands between g and i to keep the g hard.
  • guess In guess the u is silent: it stands between g and e to keep the g hard.
  • guest In guest the u is silent: it stands between g and e to keep the g hard.
  • guide In guide the u is silent: it stands between g and i to keep the g hard.
  • guilty In guilty the u is silent: it stands between g and i to keep the g hard.
  • guitar In guitar the u is silent: it stands between g and i to keep the g hard.
  • league In league the silent ue at the end keeps the g hard.
  • vague In vague the silent ue at the end keeps the g hard.

How this list was compiled: Our own selection and grouping of 128 English words, with our own hints: eight lists for the letter c (soft before e, i and y, hard before a, o, u, a consonant or at the end of a word, words with both sounds, and cc before e or i) and eight for the letter g (soft before e, i and y, hard elsewhere, words with both sounds, the common words where g stays hard before e or i, and gu). No c list holds a word with a g, and no g list a word with a c. The letters left out of each word are its c or g, and in the last list its gu. Every word was checked on 2026-10-02 in two places: the Carnegie Mellon University Pronouncing Dictionary, a record of General American pronunciation (https://github.com/cmusphinx/cmudict), where every listed pronunciation must have the sound its list names (s, k, both, j or hard g); and the word's own entry at https://en.wiktionary.org/ (license CC BY-SA 4.0), whose pronunciation line must show the same consonant. The rule (soft c and soft g generally come before e, i and y and the hard sounds elsewhere; in accept and success the first c is hard and the second soft; get and give keep a hard g; gu marks a hard g before e and i, as in guess and guitar) was read on 2026-10-02 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_C and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_G. Spellings are American. No published word list or reading program was copied. Licence: own work

How it works

The page opens on a sort: fifteen words to write under soft c (cent), hard c (cabin) and both sounds (circus). For the letter g, open More options and pick List 9 under Word list: gem, gallop and gorgeous.

Read the full guide

The vowel after the letter decides

Before e, i or y, c says s and g usually says j: cider, fancy, gem, energy. Before a, o, u, a consonant, or at the end of a word, both are hard: cotton, crumb, garden, frog. Lists 1 to 8 are c and Lists 9 to 16 are g. A sort takes the list on show and the two after it.

Rule breakers, and the missing letter sheet

List 15 holds get, give, girl and five more common words where g stays hard before e or i. In List 16 a silent u keeps it hard: guess, guitar. For a second sheet, choose Missing letters under What goes on the sheet: each word prints with its c or g left out.

  • Every word has a hint under the tool that names the letter after its c or g.
  • Words you type take the place of our list, but a typed list cannot be sorted: it prints to trace.

Questions and answers

What is the rule for hard and soft c and g?

C and g are usually soft before e, i and y, and hard everywhere else. Soft c says s, as in city; hard c says k, as in cat. Soft g says j, as in gem; hard g is the sound in go.

Which words break the soft g rule?

Get, give, girl, gift, gear, geese, begin and tiger all keep a hard g before e or i. They are List 15. The soft c rule is steadier: the c lists here hold no rule breakers.

Is this a 4th grade list?

The grade is our suggestion, not a school's list. Lists 1, 2, 9 and 10 hold short words such as cent and gem; words such as eccentric, accelerate and geography sit in Lists 8 and 11 for older spellers.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. The key is the last page of the print: the sort with every word under its heading, or the words with their letters filled in. To leave it off, uncheck Add an answer key as the last page under More options.

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