*ُSpelling*

A Few Spelling Rules
Here are a few rules. Keep the principles in mind--but don't bog down in the rules. (You'll do better simply memorizing the words you misspell.)

1. Keep the final e of the root word before adding a suffix beginning with a consonant (-ment, -ness, -less, -ful). (commencement, pronouncement, etc.)

4. On words ending with a consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the consonant before adding -ing. (drip/dripping; can/canning, etc.)

5. A word of more than one syllable ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, doubles the consonant before adding -ed or -ing: begin/beginning, compel/compelled, prefer/preferring, control/controlling . . .)

6. To retain the soft sound of the c (s sound) and of the g (j sound) in words ending in ce and ge, we keep the final e (peace/peaceable; replace/replaceable; arrange/arrangement; advantage/advantageous; notice/noticeable; change/changeable)

7. Words ending in two vowels (a vowel + final e) retain the final vowel (e) before adding a suffix. (see/seeable; shoe/shoeing; canoe/canoeing)

8. i before e except after c. Exceptions fit a jingle:
Neither leisured foreigner
Seized the weird height.
9. For words ending in c, insert k before adding -ing or -y. (picnic/picnicking; traffic/trafficking; panic/panicky . . .)

10. Use i before e unless the two letters are pronounced as in
The eight counterfeit steins
deceived the deity.

1. Remember this poem to decide if a word should be spelled ie or ei.
Put i before e
Except after c
Or when it sounds like a
As in neighbor or neigh.
Examples for line 1: mischief believe field
Examples for line 2: receiver conceited
Examples for line 3: eight weigh freight
Some Exceptions: friend neither leisure foreign

2. Follow these steps to decide if a final consonant needs to be doubled when a suffix or verb ending is added.
• If the word is one syllable or is stressed on the last syllable (Say the word out loud to determine stress.)

• • And has a single final consonant
• • And that single final consonant is preceded by a single vowel
• • And the suffix begins with a vowel
• • Then double the final consonant.

Example: Control + able

• • The stress is on the last syllable - trol
• • There is a single final consonant - l
• • The final consonant has a vowel before it - o
• • The suffix, able, begins with a vowel
• • Therefore, you double the l before adding the suffix.
• • Write controllable

Example: enter + ing

• • The stress is on the first syllable - en - not the last
• • Therefore, you do not double the final consonant.
• • Write entering.

3. How to handle a final e when adding a suffix or verb ending.
• If the suffix or verb ending begins with a vowel, drop the final e.
Examples: amuse + ing = amusing
creative + ity = creativity
• If the suffix or verb ending begins with a consonant, keep the final e.
Examples: measure + ment = measurement
definite + ly = definitely

4. How to add a suffix or verb ending when a word ends in y.
• If the word has a consonant before the y, change the y to i.
Example: mercy + less = merciless
• If the word has a vowel before the y, keep the y.
Example: employ + ed = employed

5. How to make nouns plural.
• Words that end in ss, sh, ch or x add es.
Example: switch = switches

• Words that have a consonant before a final y, change the y to i before adding es.
Example: summary = summaries
• Most nouns ending in f or fe add s. However, some change the f to v and add s or es. There is no rule to follow here.
Examples: belief = beliefs
half = halves
• Most nouns ending in o add s. However, some add es. There is no rule to follow here.
Examples: studio = studios
cargo = cargoes

6.The spelling of a word does not change when you add a prefix to it even when the first letter of the word and the last letter of the prefix are the same.
Examples: mis + step = misstep

pre + eminent = preeminent

7. Irregular plurals just need to be memorized.
child children
foot feet
goose geese
louse lice
man men
mouse mice
ox oxen
tooth teeth
woman women
.
8. Sometimes words have silent letters. These follow patterns that can be memorized.
Examples: gn, pn, kn= n
gnome pneumonia knife
Examples: rh, wr = r
rhyme wrestle
Examples: pt, ght = t
ptomaine height
Examples: ps, sc = s
psalm science
Example: wh = h
whole

A
acceptable:
Several words made the list because of the suffix pronounced -مbl but sometimes spelled -ible, sometimes -able. Just remember to accept any table offered to you and you will spell this word OK.

accidentally:
It is no accident that the test for adverbs on -ly is whether they come from an adjective on -al ("accidental" in this case). If so, the -al has to be in the spelling. No publical, then publicly.

accommodate:
Remember, this word is large enough to accommodate both a double "c" AND a double "m".

acquire:
Try to acquire the knowledge that this word and the next began with the prefix ad- but the [d] converts to [c] before [q].

acquit :
See the previous discussion.

a lot:
Two words! Hopefully, you won't have to allot a lot of time to this problem.

amateur:
Amateurs need not be mature: this word ends on the French suffix -eur (the equivalent of English -er).

apparent:
A parent need not be apparent but "apparent" must pay the rent, so remember this word always has the rent.
argument:
Let's not argue about the loss of this verb's silent [e] before the suffix -ment.

atheist :
Lord help you remember that this word comprises the prefix a- "not" + the "god" (also in the-ology) + -ist "one who believes."

believe
:You must believe that [i] usually comes before [e] except after [c] or when it is pronounced like "a" as "neighbor" and "weigh" or "e" as in "their" and "heir." Also take a look at "foreign" below. (The "i-before-e" rule has more exceptions than words it applies to.)

bellwether
:Often misspelled "bellweather." A wether is a gelded ram, chosen to lead the herd (thus his bell) due to the greater likelihood that he will remain at all times ahead of the ewes.