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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.