2nd Grade · Core Spelling
Vowel Patterns: au and aw
Two spellings for the same vowel sound heard in saw and haul — au in the middle of a word, aw at the end or before n and l.
These spelling words are a good fit for students who...
- can spell the 2nd Grade vowel patterns practiced in earlier lessons
- can hear the shared vowel sound in “saw” and “cause”
- have practiced other 2nd Grade vowel patterns that also depend on a sound’s position in the word
Word list
The 8 words to practice in this step
2nd Grade · Core Spelling
- saw
- draw
- lawn
- crawl
- hawk
- because
- cause
- author
8 words
Spelling Skill
AU and AW Words
Learn how this spelling pattern works, see examples, common mistakes, and teaching guidance.
Explore the AU and AW skill →Why these words — and what they teach
This list introduces two spellings for the vowel sound in saw and cause. A helpful position pattern gives children a practical starting point without pretending it works for every word.
Aw appears at the end in saw and draw and before n or l in lawn and crawl. Au appears inside because, cause, and author. Children learn to notice both the sound and its place. The linked Skill page provides the fuller explanation.
How to practice this list
Sort the words under au and aw. Before spelling, ask where the vowel sound occurs and what letter follows it; then mix the list and underline the chosen pattern.
A child may write sau or cawse. Confirm that the correct sound was identified, compare the attempt with saw or cause, and let the child revise the vowel letters without treating the whole word as wrong.
Move on when your child can spell these words in mixed order, use position as a clue, and correct an occasional au/aw swap with a known example.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
- How do children know whether to use au or aw?
- Position is the most reliable clue: aw is common at the end of a word (saw, draw) and before n or l (lawn, crawl), while au usually appears in the middle of a word (cause, author). It is a helpful pattern, not an absolute rule, so listening still matters.
- Why is because on this list?
- Because is one of the most useful words a second grader writes, and its first syllable uses the same au sound taught here. It already belongs to a 1st Grade High-Frequency Words set, so this page reinforces the pattern rather than teaching the word for the first time.
- What comes after au and aw in the vowel-pattern sequence?
- This is the last of the 2nd Grade vowel-pattern lessons. After au and aw, the 2nd Grade route moves from vowel sounds into soft c and g, syllables, and word endings.
- Are augh words like caught and taught included here?
- No. Augh is a related but separate spelling and is left out so this list stays focused on the two most common spellings for the sound.