Few letter patterns are as useful in word games as the -ING ending. It turns verbs into new words, extends existing words for extra points, and forms the backbone of countless seven-letter bingos. If you learn to think in -ING, you'll find scoring plays that other players miss. Here's how to use it.
Why -ING is so valuable
English forms the present participle of almost every verb by adding -ING: RUN becomes RUNNING, PLAY becomes PLAYING, READ becomes READING. That means a huge number of valid words share this ending — and in word games, predictable endings are gold. You can often add -ING to a word already on the board, or build toward it in your own rack.
Using -ING as a hook and extension
If a verb is on the board, you can sometimes extend it into its -ING form while playing a crossing word for double the score. Even better, the G, the I, and the N are common tiles, so the ending is frequently buildable. Watch for board verbs you can lengthen, and keep I, N, and G together in your rack when a play is developing.
-ING and the 50-point bingo
The -ING ending is one of the most reliable routes to a seven-letter bingo. A four-letter verb plus -ING is seven letters: for example, READ + ING = READING, or PAINT-style stems. When your rack holds a short verb plus I, N, G, start looking for a bonus. Common bingo-friendly -ING words include READING, PAINTING, STARING, RAINING, and dozens more built on everyday verbs.
Spelling rules to remember
Adding -ING isn't always a straight append, and knowing the rules helps you spot valid plays:
- Drop a silent E: MAKE → MAKING, WRITE → WRITING.
- Double a final consonant after a short vowel: RUN → RUNNING, SIT → SITTING.
- Most other verbs simply add -ING: PLAY → PLAYING, READ → READING.
Knowing whether to double the consonant or drop the E prevents you from attempting invalid plays.
Defensive awareness
The -ING hook cuts both ways. If you leave a verb open at the end of a row, your opponent may extend it with -ING for a big crossing play. When you're ahead and want to close the board, avoid leaving easily-hooked verbs exposed.
Other powerful endings to learn next
Once -ING feels natural, add its cousins to your toolkit: -ED, -ER, -ERS, -IEST, -IONS, -NESS. Each turns a base word into a family of plays and shows up constantly in bingos. Thinking in endings, rather than whole words, is how strong players find points quickly.
Practice spotting -ING plays
Type a rack that includes I, N, and G into our word unscrambler and filter for longer results — you'll see how often an -ING word is hiding in your tiles. With practice, you'll spot these plays instantly during real games.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the -ING ending so useful in Scrabble?
- It applies to almost every verb, uses common tiles, and frequently forms seven-letter bingos and board-extending hooks.
- What's the spelling rule for adding -ING?
- Drop a silent E (MAKE→MAKING), double a final consonant after a short vowel (RUN→RUNNING), otherwise just add -ING.
- What other endings should I learn?
- -ED, -ER, -ERS, -IEST, -IONS, and -NESS are all high-value endings that generate many plays and bingos.