Introduction It is extremely important to know the English spelling rules. At least the basic rules....

Introduction

It is extremely important to know the English spelling rules. At least the basic rules. They will help you a lot in your writing and understanding.

Basic spelling rules

Spelling ie and ei

Put i before e (Mischief believe field) Except after c (Receiver conceited) Or when it sounds like a As in neighbor or neigh. (eight weigh )

*  Some Exceptions:Friend neither leisure foreign

Adding prefixes

1-Keep original spelling2- if it ends with the same letter keep

both letters Examples:Post + pone = postpone

Ir + regular = irregular

Re + play = replay Mis + spelt = misspelt

Suffixes and the silent eAdding suffixes to words with silent e

rule examples

begins with a constant to a word that ends in silent e, keep the e

Place + ment = placementRare + ly = rarely

Common exceptions Judge + ment = judgment

Adding suffixes to words with silent e

rule examples

begins with a vowel or y to a word that ends in silent e, usually drop the e.

Excite + able = excitableShine + y = shiny

Common exceptions Mile + age = mileage

Adding suffixes to words with silent e

rule examples

begins with a vowel or y to a word that ends in silent e, usually drop the e.

Excite + able = excitableShine + y = shiny

Common exceptions

begins with a or o to a word that ends in ce or ge, keep the e.

begins with a vowel to a word that ends in ee or oe, keep the e

Mile + age = mileage

Change + able = changeableTrace + able = traceable

Agree + able = agreeable

Canoe + ing = canoeing

Suffixes and the final y

Rule : When you add a suffix to a word which ends in a consonant followed by a 'y', change the 'y' to 'i'.

e.g. The word 'happy' ends in 'py'.When you add the suffix 'ness', change the 'y' to 'i' to make the word happiness:happy + ness = happiness.

Exceptions to the rule. If you are adding the suffix 'ing' to a word ending in 'y', keep the 'y'.e.g. The word 'copy' ends in 'py'.When you add 'ing' the 'y' doesn't change to an 'i' because you would have 2 'i's together: copy + ing = copying.

Adding -ly

Ly is often added to base words to turn them into adverbs, adjectives or describing words

Love + ly = lovely smart + ly = smartly

Slow + ly = slowly loud + ly = loudlyMain + ly = mainly quick + ly =

quickly

Adding -ly

ExceptionsIf the adjective ends in:

Do this: And add:

For example:

-ll Drop l Add ly Full + ly = fully

Constant + le drop-e -y Terrible > terribly

y Change y to i -ly Easy > easily

e nothing -ly Extreme > extremelyException:True > truly

ic nothing -ally Basic + ly = basicallyFantastic + ly= fantastically

Forming pluralsGeneral rules for plurals

If the noun ends in: Do this:- examples

Ch, s, sh, x or z Add -es Wish > wishes

Constant + y Change y to I, add -es

Baby > babiesLady > ladies

Vowel + y Add -s Day > daysKey > keys

Vowel + o Add -s Stereo > stereosStudio > studios

Constant + o

Common exceptions

Generally Add –es

Sometimes add -s

Tomato > tomatoesCargo > cargoesSilo > silos

For ffCommon exceptions

add –sChange f to v and add es

Reef > reefsLeaf > leaves

lf Change f to v and add es

calf > calves Wolf > wolves

fe Change f to v and add s

Life > lives knife> knives

Irregular pluralssingular plural

man men

woman women

child children

foot feet

tooth teeth

mouse mice

deer deer

sheep sheep

ox oxen

fish fish or fishes

Mostly confused wordsAccept – to take something that is given to youExcept – to leave out

Altar – a raised place used in religious servicesAlter – to change

Ascent – to climbAssent – to agree

Brake – a device for stopping or slowing a vehicleBreak – to come apart

Cite – to documentSite – a place

Desert- vast part of land covered with sandDessert- sweet

Coarse – roughCourse – moving from one point to the next

Complement - something that makes a thing whole or perfectCompliment – to praise

Conscience – a sense of right and wrongConscious – state of being awake

Descent – coming from a higher place to a lower oneDissent – to disagree

Desert – a dry, hot, sandy areaDessert – the sweet final part of a meal

Device – something made for a certain purposeDevise – to invent something or develop a plan

Elicit – to bring outIllicit – illegal

Eminent – famous or well respectedImminent – about to happen

Faint – weakFeint – a movement meant to deceive

Forth – forwardFourth – an ordinal number

Here – at or in a placeHear – to receive sound through one’s ears

Hole – an opening through somethingWhole – an entire thing

Peace – absence of fightingPiece – a portion of something

Plain – clearly seen, heard, or understoodPlane – a flat surface

Stationary – to stand stillStationery – writing paper

Weak – without strengthWeek – a period of seven days

References

1. Fuchs, Marjorie, and Margaret Honner. Focus On Grammar. United State o America:      Pearson Longman, n.d.

2. Glencoe, Mcgraw Hill. Grammar and Composition (grade 10). America: McGraw - Hill      company, 2005.