Do you use ck at the end of a word when k comes after short vowel?

You're thinking about the spelling rule for words with a short vowel followed by a "k" sound. In those cases, you *do* use "ck" at the end of the word.

Here's why:

* Short vowels: Short vowels like "a" in "cat," "e" in "bed," "i" in "pig," "o" in "hot," and "u" in "cup" have a short, quick sound.

* "K" sound: The "k" sound after a short vowel is usually represented by "ck" instead of just "k."

Examples:

* Back (not "bak")

* Duck (not "duk")

* Tick (not "tik")

Exceptions:

There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they are relatively uncommon:

* **Words ending in "ique" (unique, antique)

* **Some words ending in "ic" (public, picnic)

Overall, the "ck" spelling after a short vowel is a good rule of thumb, but it's always good to double-check the spelling in a dictionary if you're unsure.