Spelling Rules Handout

Basic Spelling Rules

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:	Exceptions:
Mischief Receiver Weight	Weird

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

Gn, pn, kn, mn = n	Rh, wr = r	Pt, ght = t	Ps, sc = s	Wh = h

3) Adding Suffixes

a. When to double final consonant

run + -ing = ____________________  cook + ing = ____________________  

occur + ence = ____________________ transmit + -able = ____________________

Follow these steps to decide if a final consonant needs to be doubled when a suffix or verb ending with a vowel in the beginning 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 the single final consonant is preceded by a single vowel
• And the suffix begins with a vowel

Then double the final consonant.

Doubling the last letter: 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: controllable

Not doubling the last letter: Example: enter + ing = The stress is on the first syllable - en - not the last Therefore, you do not double the final consonant: entering

 

1. sit + ing = ________________  2. submit + able = ________________

3. begin + er = ________________  4. weaken + ed = ________________

5. expel + ing = ________________

b. How to handle a final e when adding a suffix or verb ending.

drive + ing = ________________  exterminate + ion = ________________ love + less = ________________

• If the suffix or verb ending begins with a vowel, drop the final e of the word you are adding the suffix to.

Examples:	amuse + ing = amusing
-Ing, ed, able, ity, Ible, est, ive	creative + ity = creativity allege + ing: alleging
Exceptions – keep the final e:	advantage + ous= advantageous notice + able=noticeable

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

           -ment, less, ly, ful, like, ship

Examples:	measure + ment = measurement
	definite + ly = definitely

 

1. provoke + ing = ________________  2. leisure + ly = ________________

c. Adding suffixes: 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; happiness, silliest

• If the word has a vowel before the y, keep the y.

           Example: employ + ed = employed; grayness, boyish, flying

d. How to make nouns plural.

Ø     Words that end in ss, sh, ch or x add es. Example: switch = switches	Ø     Words that have a consonant before a final y, change the y to i before adding es. Example: summary = summaries	Ø     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	Ø     Most nouns ending in o add s. However, some add es. There is no rule to follow here. Examples: studio = studios

4) Adding Prefixes

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.

pre + eminent = ________________

mis + spelling = ________________

il + legal = ________________

fore + word = ________________

con + notation = ________________  

Examples: mis + step = misstep; un + necessary = unnecessary

5) Homophones: these are words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings.

Examples: to, two, too

Supplemental Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode53/languagepoint.shtml
http://www.spelling-words-well.com/support-files/spelling-bee-lists-8th-grade.pdf