Spelling rules - can we tame them?

1. Using I Before E

Use i before e, except after c, or when sounded as "a" as in "neighbour" and "weigh."

EXAMPLES: believe, chief, piece, and thief; deceive, receive, weigh, and freight

COMMON EXCEPTIONS: efficient, weird, height, neither, ancient, caffeine, foreign

2. Dropping the Final E

Drop the final e before a suffix beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) but not before a suffix beginning with a consonant.

EXAMPLES:

  • ride + ing = riding
  • guide + ance = guidance
  • hope + ing = hoping
  • entire + ly = entirely
  • like + ness = likeness
  • arrange + ment = arrangement

COMMON EXCEPTIONS: truly, noticeable

3. Changing a Final Y to I

Change a final y to i before a suffix, unless the suffix begins with i.

EXAMPLES:

  • defy + ance = defiance
  • party + es = parties
  • pity + ful = pitiful
  • try + es = tries
  • try + ing = trying
  • copy + ing = copying
  • occupy + ing = occupying

COMMON EXCEPTIONS: journeying, memorize

4. Doubling a Final Consonant

Double a final single consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel when both of these conditions exist:

  • (a) a single vowel precedes the consonant;
  • (b) the consonant ends an accented syllable or a one-syllable word.

EXAMPLES:

  • stop + ing = stopping
  • admit + ed = admitted
  • occur + ence = occurrence
  • stoop + ing = stooping
  • benefit + ed = benefited
  • delight + ful = delightful

Adapted (with English spellings preferred) from Richard Nordquist's About.com guide

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