Effects of rhyme and spelling patterns on auditory word ERPs depend on selective attention to phonology

► ERPs to spoken words show rhyming effects that are concurrent with stimulus encoding. ► ERPs to spoken words show sensitivity to spelling patterns too but this occurs later. ► Attending to other auditory information eliminates ERP rhyming effects. ► ERP rhyming effects are not entirely automatic but depend on attention to phonology. ► Spelling impacts ERPs when attending to phonology, not when attending to other sounds.