What type of spelling error is when a child spells "lump" as "lup"?

In the case of a child spelling "lump" as "lup," this demonstrates a phonologically based error. Such errors occur when a child's spelling reflects a reliance on the sounds they hear rather than the correct orthographic representation of the word.

Phonologically based errors typically involve a child's attempt to match sounds to letters but result in omissions or substitutions of phonemes. In this example, the child has correctly identified the initial sound "l" and the vowel sound "u," but has failed to represent the final consonant cluster "mp," simplifying it to just "p." This indicates an understanding of sound-to-letter relationships but also highlights a common step in the developmental process of spelling, where children often spell words based on their phonetic sound rather than their full correct spelling.

Understanding this type of error is important as it can inform instructional strategies that focus on phonemic awareness and the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters in more complex spelling situations.