Spelling: teaching and learning spelling

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