Skip to main content

Spelling Rules


SPELLING RULES


Final consonant

One-syllable words ending in single vowel + single consonant double the consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel.

beg + ed = begged -- rob + er = robber run + ing = running -- sad + est = saddest but:

wish + ed = wished (two consonants) fear + ing = fearing (two vowels)

Words of two or three syllables ending in single vowel + single consonant double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed.

begin + ing = beginning -- occur + ed = occurred permit + ed = permitted -- control + er = controller

The consonant is not doubled if the last syllable is not stressed. benefit + ed = benefited -- suffer + ing = suffering

These words are exceptions: worship, kidnap, handicap. worship + ed = worshipped -- handicap + ed = handicapped kidnap + er = kidnapper

In British English the consonant l is doubled, even if the stress does not fall on the last syllabi

quarrel + ed = quarreled -- signal + ing = signalling travel + er = traveler -- distil + er = distiller Note the exception:-

parallel + ed = paralleled

If the word to which the suffix ful is added ends in ll, the second l is dropped.
skill + ful = skilful -- will + ful = wilful

Final e

Words ending in silent e drop the e before a suffix beginning with a vowel. live + ing = living -- move + ed = moved
home + ing = homing -- drive + er = driver

The e remains before a suffix beginning with a consonant, hope + ful = hopeful
engage + ment = engagement

Note the exceptions:-
true + ly = truly
whole + ly = wholly
due + ly = duly
nine + th = ninth
argue + ment = argument
awe + ful = awful

Notice the special case of words ending in ce and ge which keep the e when adding able and ous.

notice + able = noticeable peace + able = peaceable change + able = changeable courage + ous = courageous

In such words the c and g are pronounced soft before e. Sometimes the e is retained to avoid confusion with a similar word.
singe + ing = singeing (avoids confusion with singing)
swinge + ing = swingeing (avoids confusion with swinging)

Words ending in ee do not drop an e before a suffix. see + ing = seeing
agree + ment = agreement

Words ending in ie change the ie to y when ing is added. die, dying

tie, tying, lie, lying

Finaly

A final y following a consonant changes to i before a suffix except ing. happy + ly = happily

carry + ed = carried beauty + ful = beautiful marry + age = marriage

But:
carry + ing = carrying
marry + ing = marrying

But y following a vowel does not change.
pray + ed = prayed
play + er = player

Notice a few exceptions:-
pay + ed = paid
day + ly = daily
say + ed = said
gay + ly = gaily
lay + ed = laid

ie or ei

When ie or ei is pronounced like ee in 'jeep', i comes before e except after c. believe -- receive

relieve -- receipt achieve -- deceive grieve -- deceit, yield -- conceive field -- conceit

Some exceptions :
Seize -- protein -- counterfeit
Weird -- surfeit -- plabeian
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transitive and Intransitive Verb

THE VERB Transitive and Intransitive Verbs A Verb is a word that tells or asserts something about a person or thing. Verb comes from the Latin verbum, a word. It is so called because it is the most important word in a sentence. A Verb may tell us- What a person or thing does; as, Hari laughs. The clock strikes. What is done to a person or thing ; as, Hari is scolded. The window is broken. What a person or thing is; as, The cat is dead. Glass is brittle. I feel sorry. Def:- A Verb is a word used to tell or assert something about some person or thing. A Verb often consists of more than one word; as, The girls were singing. I have learnt my lesson. The watch has been found. Read these sentences:- The boy kicks the football. The boy laughs loudly. In sentence 1, the action denoted by the verb kicks passes over from the doer or subject boy to some Object football. The verb kicks is, therefore, called a Transitive Verb. (Transitive means passing ove...
7 comments
Read more

Figures of Speech

FIGURES OF SPEECH A Figure of Speech is a departure from the ordinary form of expression, or the ordinary course of ideas in order to produce a greater effect. Figures of Speech may be classified as under:- Those based on Resemblance, such as Simile, Metaphor, Personification and Apostrophe. Those based on Contrast, such as Antithesis and Epigram. Those based on Association, such as Metonymy and Synec doche. Those depending on Construction, such as Climax and Anti-climax. Simile:- In a Simile a comparison is made between two objects of different kinds which have however at least one point in common. The Simile is usually introduced by such words as like, as or so. Examples:- The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold. The righteous shall flourish as the palm tree. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. Words are like leaves: and where they most abound, How far that little candle throws his beams...
2 comments
Read more

Analysis of Compound Sentences

ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND SENTENCES (Clause Analysis) A compound sentence is made up of two or more principal or main clauses joined together by a Co-ordinating conjunction and sometimes includes one or more subordinate clauses. The horse reared and the rider was thrown. [2 main clauses] They were fond of music, played on various kinds of instrument, and indulged in much singing. [3 main clauses] They asked him how he received the wound, but he refused to answer. [2 main clauses + 1 subordinate clause] He says what he means, and he means what he says. [2 main clauses +2 subordinate clauses] It has been already pointed out that the term Double is now used for a sentence which is made up of two main clauses, and the term Multiple for a sentence of more than two main clauses, In accordance with this new terminology, 1, 3, and 4 are Double sentences, and 2 is a Multiple sentence. The connection between two main clauses of a Compound sentence may be one o...
3 comments
Read more