Basic Spelling Rules

Have you ever seen this word? Ghoti

Here are some clues to figure it out.
o Pronounce the gh as in tough, the o as in women and the ti as in nation.
o Blend these sounds and you get fish.
This joke was made by George Bernard Shaw to prove a point. English spelling is confusing.

Actually, English spelling does follow specific rules

Therefore, ghoti cannot be pronounced as fish because gh

never represents the sound of f at the beginning of an English
word and ti never represents the sound of sh at the end of an
English word.
Knowing some basic rules of English spelling can eliminate many common
errors even though there are usually exceptions.

Basic Rules
1. Remember this poem to decide if a word should be spelled ie or ei.

Put i before e

Except after c

Or when it sounds like a

As in neighbor or neigh.

Examples for line 1: mischief believe field

Examples for line 2: receiver conceited

Examples for line 3: eight weigh freight

Some Exceptions: friend neither leisure foreign

2. Follow these steps to decide if a final consonant needs to be doubled when a
suffix or verb ending is added.
If the word is one syllable or is stressed on the last syllable (Say
the word out loud to determine stress.)

And has a single final consonant

And that single final consonant is preceded by a

single vowel

And the suffix begins with a vowel

Then double the final consonant.

Example: Control + able

The stress is on the last syllable - trol

There is a single final consonant - l

The final consonant has a vowel before it - o

The suffix, able, begins with a vowel

Therefore, you double the l before

adding the suffix.

Write controllable

Example: enter + ing

The stress is on the first syllable - en - not the last

Therefore, you do not double the final consonant.

Write entering.
3. How to handle a final e when adding a suffix or verb ending.

If the suffix or verb ending begins with a vowel, drop the final e.

Examples: amuse + ing = amusing

creative + ity = creativity

J.Nogowski

J.Nogowski

If the suffix or verb ending begins with a consonant, keep the

final e.

Examples: measure + ment = measurement

definite + ly = definitely

J.Nogowski

4. How to add a suffix or verb ending when a word ends in y.

If the word has a consonant before the y, change the y to i.

Example: mercy + less = merciless

 If the word has a vowel before the y, keep the y.

Example: employ + ed = employed

5. How to make nouns plural.

Words that end in ss, sh, ch or x add es.

Example: switch = switches

Words that have a consonant before a final y, change the y to i

before adding es.

Example: summary = summaries

Most nouns ending in f or fe add s. However, some change the f

to v and add s or es. There is no rule to follow here.

Examples: belief = beliefs

half = halves

Most nouns ending in o add s. However, some add es. There is

no rule to follow here.

Examples: studio = studios

cargo = cargoes

6. The spelling of a word does not change when you add a prefix to it even when the first letter of the word and the last
letter of the prefix are the same.

mis + step = misstep

Examples:

pre + eminent = preeminent

un + necessary = unnecessary
7. Irregular plurals just need to be memorized.

child children

foot feet

goose geese

louse lice

man men

mouse mice

ox oxen

tooth teeth

woman women

8. Sometimes words have silent letters. These follow patterns that can be memorized.

Examples: gn, pn, kn= n

gnome pneumonia knife

Examples: rh, wr = r

rhyme wrestle

Examples: pt, ght = t

ptomaine height

Examples: ps, sc = s

psalm science

Example: wh = h
 whole
Now that you have practiced applying the basic spelling rules, you
might need a way to help you remember the rules.

Flash Cards

On one side of a 3 x 5 card, write the rule that is causing you

problems. On the reverse, write examples of words that apply to this
rule. Index cards are convenient, because you can carry them
anywhere and study at any time.

Adapted from Montgomery County Community College

http://www.mc3.edu/aa/lal/workshops/wksp_spelling/spellingrules.html

Practice Exercise - Rule 1

Fill in ei or ie
1. When you hang up the telephone, you put the rec____ver down.

2. She has an overly high opinion of herself. In fact, she is considered

conc____ted.

3. We invested money in a mutual fund that gave us an extremely high

y____ld.

4. The radio station was bes____ged by telephone calls when it offered

free tickets to the concert.

5. The night before Halloween is traditionally a time for misch____f.

6. The f____ld of technology is dramatically altering our world.

7. The anc____nt ruins were amazingly well preserved.

8. The gourmet cook used a s_____ve to drain the pasta.

9. In many cultures, brides wear a v_____l.

10. He had two nephews, but only one n_____ce.

 Practice Exercise - Rule 2
Decide if the final consonant needs to be doubled before adding
the suffix. Enter the complete word into the empty field.
1. Marriage is a lifetime ____________ (commit +ment).
2. He never ____________ (submit + ed) his applications to college.

3. He was ____________ (expel + ed) from school because of his

behavior.

4. The birth of her child was the most memorable ____________ (occur
+ ence) of her life.

5. The ____________ (allot + ment) of time for the test was inadequate.

6. The instructor __________ (lessen + ed) the requirements for his

course, because he realized they were burdensome.

7. I __________ (actual + ly) missed my parents when I left for college.

8. He __________ (equip + ed) himself with clothing for all types of

weather.

9. She __________ (submit + ed) applications for several jobs.

10. It is __________ (hot + er) in Hawaii than in Alaska.

Practice Exercise - Rule 3

Decide if the final e should remain or be dropped.
Write the completed word after the equal sign.

1. agitate + ion = 6. force + ible =

2. force + ful = 7. receive + ing =

3. measure + ment = 8. sportsman + ship =
4. approve + al = 9. hope + ful =
5. believe + able = 10. sense + ible =
 Practice Exercise - Rule 4
Decide if the y changes to i before adding the suffix or if
it remains a y. Write the completed word after the equal
sign.
1. defy + ed = 6. fancy + er =
2 lazy + ness = 7. destroy + ed =
3 mercy + less = 8 deploy + ing =
4. angry + ly = 9. pry + ed =
5. carry + er = 10. tarry + ed =

Practice Exercise - Rule 5

Make these nouns plural. Write the noun's plural form
next to the noun.

1. latch = 6. ratio =
2 society = 7. loaf =
3 luxury = 8 soprano =
4. chimney = 9. stereo =
5. wolf = 10. princess =

Practice Exercise - Rule 6

Add prefixes to these words. Write the completed word
into after the equal sign. .
1. co + operate =
2. il + legal =
3. mis + say =
4. dis + satisfy =
5. un + nerve =
Adapted from http://www.mc3.edu/aa/lal/workshops/wksp_spelling/spellingrules.html

Answers on following page

 LATTC Writing Center Rev. March 20, 2009 Title V Funded

Practice 1 = 1. receiver;2. conceited;3. yield;4. besieged;5.

mischief;6. field;7. ancient;8. sieve;9. veil;10. Niece

Practice 2 = 1.commitment;2. submitted;3. expelled;4.

occurrence;5. allotment;6. lessened;7. actually;8. equipped;9.
submitted;10. hotter

Practice 3 = 1. agitation; 2. forceful; 3. measurement; 4.

approval; 5. believable; 6. forcible; 7. receiving; 8.
sportsmanship; 9. hopeful; 10. sensible

Practice 4 = 1. defied;2. laziness;3. merciless;4. angrily;5.

carrier;6. fancier;7. destroyed;8. deploying;9. pried;10. Tarried

Practice 5 = 1. latches;2. societies;3. luxuries;4. chimneys;5.

wolves;6. ratios;7. loaves;8. sopranos;9. stereos;10. Princesses

Practice 6 =1. cooperate;2.illegal;3.missay;4. dissatisfy;5.

unnerve
LATTC Writing Center Rev. March 20, 2009 Title V Funded