Many words in English end in either -ious or -eous and it can be hard to know which ending to choose.
Most words that have a 'sh' sound just before the ending are spelt -ious.
For example:
cautious
vicious
conscious
However, there are no other rules to help and unfortunately it is just a case of learning which ending to use!
As always, with tricky spellings, the more you read and the more you practise, the easier it will become!
Let's start right now!
View the activity introduction for more information on the topic
Read the question aloud
Open the accessibility toolbar to change fonts and contrast, choose a different language, use a ruler and more
Question
Do you want to skip questions and finish?
Hold up, it looks like there may be an issue with your spelling. Why not try it again?
You need to check your answer before you proceed. Are you sure you want to skip?
Teacher explanation