Spelling rules

Spelling Rules There are few Spelling Rules which should be followed in the formation of words. Final a consonant: 1. For the one-syllable words ending in single vowel + single consonant, double the consonant before a suffix beginning with vowel. Examples: • beg + ed = begged • run + ed =running • rob + er = robber • sad + est =saddest but… • wish + ed = wished (two consonants) • fear + ing = fearing ( two vowels) 2. For the words of two or three syllables ending in single vowel + single consonant, double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed. Examples: • Begin + ing =beginning • Permit +ed =permitted • Occur +ed =occurred • Control + er =controller There are more Spelling Rules that follow. 3. The consonant is not doubled if the last syllable is not stressed. Examples: • Benefit +ed = benefited • Suffer + ing =suffering Exceptions: • Worship +ed =worshipped • Handicap +ed =handicapped • Kidnap +er =kidnapper 4. The consonant ‘l’ is doubled, even if the stress does not fall on the last syllable. Examples: • Quarrel + ed =quarreled • Signal + ing = signalling • Travel + er =traveller • Distil + er =distiller 5. If the word to which suffix ‘ful’ is added ends in‘ll’, the second ‘l’ is dropped. Examples: • Skill + ful =skilful • Will + full =willful There are more Spelling Rules that follow. 6. For words ending in silent ‘e’, drop the ‘e’ before a suffix beginning with a vowel. Examples: • Live + ing =living • Move + ing =moving • Drive + ing =driving • Hope + ing =hoping NOTE: The ‘e’ remains before a suffix beginning with a consonant. Examples: • Hope + ful =hopeful • Engage +ment =engagement Exceptions: • True + ly +truly • Whole +ly =wholly • Due + ly = duly • Nine + th =ninth • Awe + ful =awful • Argue +ment =argument 7. Notice the special case of words ending in ‘ce’ and ‘ge’ which keep the ‘e’ when adding ‘able’ and ‘ous’. Examples: • Notice +able =noticeable • Peace +able =peaceful • Change +able =changeable • Courage + ous =courageous 8. Words ending in ‘ee’ do not drop an ‘e’ before a suffix. Examples: • See + ing =seeing • Agree + ment =agreement 9. Words ending in ‘ie’ change the ‘ie’ to ‘y’ when ‘ing’ is added. Examples: • Die + ing =dying • Tie + ing =tying • Lie + ing =lying There are more Spelling Rules that follow. 10. A final ‘y’ following a consonant changes to ‘i’ before a suffix except ‘ing’. Examples: • Happy + ly = happily • Beauty + ful =beautiful • Carry + ed = carried • Marry + ed =married • Marry +age =marriage • Carry +ing =carrying • Marry +ing =marrying NOTE: But, ‘y’ following a vowel does not change. • Pray + ed =prayed • Play +er =player Exceptions: • Pay +ed =paid • Say +ed =said • Lay + ed =laid • Day + ly =daily • Gay +ly =gaily 11. When ‘ie’ or ‘ei’ is pronounced like ‘ee’ in jeep, ‘i’ comes before ‘e’ except after ‘c’. Examples: • Believe • Relieve • Achieve • Grieve • Yield • Field • Receive • Receipt • Deceive • Deceit • Conceive • Conceit Exceptions: • Seize • Weird • Protein • Surfeit • Counterfeit • Plebeian These are the Spelling Rules which determine the formation of words of different kinds. Go to the Advanced English Index to continue HOME PAGE