Using the Dictionary
When the Spelling Is Unknown

    Suggestion 1

    Be patient.

    Suggestion 2

    One sound in English can be spelled with different letters or a combination of letters. If you can't find your word spelled with the letter you first think of, try the other letter or letter combination listed below. While this chart won't cover all situations, it will translate sounds into their most common spellings.

    c/k

    c/s

    f/v/ph

    g/j

    qu/kw/k

    s/c/z

    sch/sc/sk

    sh/ch

    shun/tion/sion

    w/wh

    able/ible

    ai/ay

    al/el/le

    ancy/ency

    ate/ite

    au/aw

    ea/ee

    er/or

    ou/ow

    oo/u

    y/i/e

    		      

    (Chart reprinted with permission of Townsend Press.)

    Suggestion 3

    Consonants are sometimes doubled in a word. If you can't find your word with a single consonant, try doubling it.

    Suggestion 4

    Vowels (a,e,i,o,u )often sound the same. If you can't find the word with one vowel, substitute a different one.