*ُ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.

calendar
:This word has an [e] between two [a]s. The last vowel is [a].

category
:This word is not in a category with "catastrophe" even if it sounds like it: the middle letter is [e].

cemetery
:Don't let this one bury you: it ends on -eryùnary an -ary in it. You already know it starts on [c], of course.

collectible
:Another -ible word. You just have to remember.

column
:Silent final [e] is commonplace in English but a silent final [n] is not uncommon, especially after [m].

committed
:If you are committed to correct spelling, you will remember that this word doubles its final [t] from "commit" to "committed."

conscience
:Don't let misspelling this word weigh on your conscience: [ch] spelled "sc" is unusual but legitimate

conscientious
:Work on your spelling conscientiously and remember this word with [ch] spelled two different ways: "sc" and "ti". English spelling!

conscious
:Try to be conscious of the "sc" [ch] sound and all the vowels in this word's ending and i-o-u a note of congratulations.

consensus
:The census does not require a consensus, since they are not related.

daiquiri
:
Don't make yourself another daiquiri until you learn how to spell this funny word—the name of a Cuban village.


definite(ly)

This word definitely sounds as though it ends only on -it, but it carries a silent "e" everywhere it goes.

discipline:
A little discipline, spelled with the [s] and the [c] will get you to the correct spelling of this one


drunkenness:
You would be surprised how many sober people omit one of the [n]s in this one.

dumbbell:
Even smart people forget one of the [b]s in this one. (So be careful who you call one when you write.)

embarrass(ment): This one won't embarrass you if you remember it is large enough for a double [r] AND a double [s].
equipment: This word is misspelled "equiptment" 22,932 times on the web right now.
Exhilarate: Remembering that [h] when you spell this word will lift your spirits and if you remember both [a]s, it will be exhilarating!
Exceed: Remember that this one is -ceed, not -cede. (To exceed all expectations, master the spellings of this word, "precede" and "supersede" below.)
Existence :No word like this one spelled with an [a] is in existence. This word is a menage a quatre of one [i] with three [e]s.
Experience: Don't experience the same problem many have with "existence" above in this word: -ence!

gauge :You must learn to gauge the positioning of the [a] and [u] in this word. Remember, they are in alphabetical order (though not the [e

grateful:You should be grateful to know that keeping "great" out of "grateful" is great.

guarantee:I guarantee you that this word is not spelled like "warranty" even though they are synonyms.

harass:This word is too small for two double letters but don't let it harass you, just keep the [r]s down to one.

height:English reaches the height (not heighth!) of absurdity when it spells "height" and "width" so differently.

hierarchy:The [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] works here, so what is the problem

humorous:Humor us and spell this word "humorous": the [r] is so weak, it needs an o] on both sides to hold it up.

ignorance:Don't show your ignorance by spelling this word -ence!

immediate:The immediate thing to remember is that this word has a prefix, in- "not" which becomes [m] before [m] (or [b] or [p]). "Not mediate" means direct which is why "immediately" means "directly."

independent:Please be independent but not in your spelling of this word. It ends on -ent

indispensable:Knowing that this word ends on -able is indispensable to good writing.

inoculate:This one sounds like a shot in the eye. One [n] the eye is enough.

intelligence:Using two [l]s in this word and ending it on -ence rather than -ance are marks of . . . you guessed it.

its/it's:The apostrophe marks a contraction of "it is." Something that belongs to it is "its."

jewelry

Sure, sure, it is made by a jeweler but the last [e] in this case flees the scene like a jewel thief. However, if you prefer British spelling, remember to double the [l]: "jeweller," "jewellery."


judgment

Traditionally, the word has been spelled judgment in all forms of the English language. However, the spelling judgement (with e added) largely replaced judgment in the United Kingdom in a non-legal context. In the context of the law, however, judgment is preferred. This spelling change contrasts with other similar spelling changes made in American English, which were rejected in the UK. In the US at least, judgment is still preferred and judgement is considered incorrect by many American style guides.

kernel (colonel
There is more than a kernel of truth in the claim that all the vowels in this word are [e]s. So why is the military rank (colonel) pronounced identically? English spelling can be [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] .

leisure:
Yet another violator of the [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] . You can be sure of the spelling of the last syllable but not of the pronunciation.

liaison:
Another French word throwing us an orthographical curve: a spare [i], just in case. That's an [s], too, that sounds like a [z].

library:
It may be as enjoyable as a berry patch but that isn't the way it is spelled. That first [r] should be pronounced, too.

license:
Where does English get the license to use both its letters for the sound [s] in one word?

lightning:
Learning how to omit the [e] in this word should lighten the load of English orthography a little bit.

maintenance
The main tenants of this word are "main" and "tenance" even though it comes from the verb "maintain." English orthography at its most [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] .

maneuver
Man, the price you pay for borrowing from French is high. This one goes back to French main + oeuvre "hand-work," a spelling better retained in the British spelling, "manoeuvre."

medieval
The medieval orthography of English even lays traps for you: everything about the MIDdle Ages is MEDieval or, as the British would write, mediaeval.

memento
Why would something to remind of you of a moment be spelled "memento?" Well, it is.

millennium
Here is another big word, large enough to hold two double consonants, double [l] and double [n].

miniature
Since that [a] is seldom pronounced, it is seldom included in the spelling. This one is a "mini ature;" remember that.

minuscule
Since something minuscule is smaller than a miniature, shouldn't they be spelled similarly? Less than cool, or "minus cule."

mischievous
This mischievous word holds two traps: [i] before [e] and [o] before [u]. Four of the five vowels in English reside here.

misspell
What is more embarrassing than to misspell the name of the problem? Just remember that it is mis + spell and that will spell you the worry about spelling "spell."

neighbor
No wonder many speaking Black English say "hood" for "neighborhood"ùit avoids the i-before-e rule and the silent "gh". If you use British spelling, it will cost you another [u]: "neighbour."

noticeable
The [e] is noticeably retained in this word to indicate the [c] is "soft," pronounced like [s]. Without the [e], it would be pronounced "hard," like [k], as in "applicable."

occasionally
Writers occasionally tire of doubling so many consonants and omit one, usually one of the [l]s. Don't you ever do it.

occurrence
Remember not only the occurrence of double double consonants in this word, but that the suffix is -ence, not -ance. No reason, just the English language keeping us on our toes.

-----------------
p

pastime

Since a pastime is something you do to pass the time, you would expect a double [s] here. Well, there is only one. The second [s] was slipped through the cracks in English orthography long ago.

perseverance
All it takes is perseverance and you, too, can be a (near-)perfect speller. The suffix is -ance for no reason at all.

personnel
Funny Story (passed along by Bill Rudersdorf): The assistant Vice-President of Personnel notices that his superior, the VP himself, upon arriving at his desk in the morning opens a small, locked box, smiles, and locks it back again. Some years later when he advanced to that position (inheriting the key), he came to work early one morning to be assured of privacy. Expectantly, he opened the box. In it was a single piece of paper which said: "Two Ns, one L."

playwright
Those who play right are right-players, not playwrights. Well, since they write plays, they should be "play-writes," wright right? Rong Wrong. Remember that a play writer in Old English was called a "play worker" and "wright" is from an old form of "work" (wrought iron, etc.)

possession
Possession possesses more [s]s than a snake.

precede
What follows, succeeds, so what goes before should, what? No, no, no, you are using logic. Nothing confuses English spelling more than common sense. "Succeed" but "precede." (Wait until you see " [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] .")

principal/principle
The spelling principle to remember here is that the school principal is a prince and a pal (despite appearances)--and the same applies to anything of foremost importance, such as a principal principle. A "principle" is a rule. (Thank you, Meghan Cope, for help on this one

privilege
According to the pronunciation (not "pronounciation"!) of this word, that middle vowel could be anything. Remember: two [i]s + two [e]s in that order.

pronunciation
Nouns often differ from the verbs they are derived from. This is one of those. In this case, the pronunciation is different, too, an important clue

publicly
Let me publicly declare [ برای مشاهده لینک ، با نام کاربری خود وارد شوید یا ثبت نام کنید ] (again): if the adverb comes from an adjective ending on -al, you include that ending in the adverb; if not, as here, you don't.