Basic Spelling Rules

Have you ever seen this word?

Ghoti

    Here are some clues to figure it out.

        Pronounce the gh as in tough, the o as in women and the ti as in nation.
        Blend these sounds and you get fish.

    This joke was made by George Bernard Shaw to prove a point. English spelling is confusing.

    Actually, English spelling does follow specific rules; therefore, ghoti cannot be pronounced as fish because gh never represents the sound of f at the beginning of an English word and ti never represents the sound of sh at the end of an English word.

    Knowing some basic rules of English spelling can eliminate many common errors even though there are usually exceptions.

    Basic Rules

    1. Remember this poem to decide if a word should be spelled ie or ei.

            2. 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

      I before EExcept after C
      J.Nogowski

      Practice QuizClick Here For Practice Exercise 1

    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.



    1. 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

    Drop E
    J.Nogowski
    A Lot of Practicing
    J.Nogowski

      • If the suffix or verb ending begins with a consonant, keep the final e.

          Examples:

          measure + ment = measurement
           

          definite + ly = definitely

    Keep E
    J.Nogowski


    1. 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

      Practice QuizClick Here For Practice Exercise 4

    2. 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

      Practice QuizClick Here For Practice Exercise 5

    3. 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.

            4. Examples:

            mis + step = misstep
             

            pre + eminent = preeminent
             

            un + necessary = unnecessary

      Practice QuizClick Here For Practice Exercise 6

    4. Irregular plurals just need to be memorized.

            5. child

            children

            foot

            feet

            goose

            geese

            louse

            lice

            man

            men

            mouse

            mice

            ox

            oxen

            tooth

            teeth

            woman

            women

    5. Sometimes words have silent letters. These follow patterns that can be memorized.

            6. 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

            		  


Lightbulb

Now that you have practiced applying the basic spelling rules, you might need a way to help you remember the rules.

Flash Cards

On one side of a 3 x 5 card, write the rule that is causing you problems. On the reverse, write examples of words that apply to this rule. Index cards are convenient, because you can carry them anywhere and study at any time.