Improving Your Spelling

The following rules can help you eliminate spelling errors, so learn them.

PrefixesWhen a prefix is added to a word, the spelling of the word remains the same. When a prefix creates a double letter, keep both letters. ● il - + legible = illegible

● im - + movable = immovable

The Suffixes -ness and -lyWhen the suffix - ly is added to a word ending in l, keep both l’s. When –ness is added to a word ending in n, keep both n’s. ●natural + - ly = naturally ●open + - ness = openness

When a suffix beginning with a vowel or y is added to a word ending in a silent e, the e is usually dropped.

desire + - able = desirable pore + - ous = porous

Suffixes with Silent e

When a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a word ending with a silent e, the e is usually retained.

blame + - less = blameless lone + - ly = lonely

Exceptions: truly, argument, ninth, wholly and awful

Suffixes with Silent e

When a suffix beginning with a or o is added to a word with a final silent e, the final e is usually retained if it is preceded by a soft c or a soft g.

outrage + - ous = outrageous change + - able = changeable

When a suffix beginning with a vowel is added to words ending in ee or oe the final silent e is retained.

agree + - ing = agreeing

Suffixes with a Final y

When a suffix is added to a word ending in y, and the y is preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to

i except with the suffix –ing.

party + -es = parties

but carry + - ing = carrying

Suffixes with a final Y

When a suffix is added to a word ending in y preceded by a vowel, the y usually does not change. ● pay + - able = payable

Exceptions: daily and gaily

Words Ending in a Consonant

In one-syllable words that end with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.

● shun + - ed = shunned

Words Ending in a Consonant

Do not double the final consonant in one-syllable words ending in one consonant preceded by two vowels. ● clear + - est = clearest ● coat + - ed = coated

Words Ending in a Consonant● In two-syllable words, double the consonant only if both of

the following conditions exist:

1. The word ends with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel. 2. The word is accented on the second syllable. Compel’ + - ing = compelling patrol’ + - er = patroller

If the newly formed word is accented on a different syllable, the final consonant is not doubled. ● de fer’ + - ence = def’er ence ● re side’ + - ent = res’i dent

Words with ie and ei

● When the sound is long e the word is spelled ie, except after c. (examples: grieve, yield, perceive, achieve, chief, deceit)

● When the sound is long a, the word is spelled ei. sleigh, neighbor, beige, weight

● Exceptions : either, friend, leisure, neither, seize, sieve, species, weird, forfeit, financier, and Fahrenheit.

Words with ie and ei

i before e except after c or when sounding like "a" as in neighbor or weigh:their, weird and either,

foreign, seize and neither,leisure, forfeit and height

are exceptions spelled right

There are three suffixes in English pronounced “seed.” They are spelled –cede, -ceed, and -sede ● -cede: accede, antecede, cede, concede, intercede, precede,

recede, secede● -ceed: exceed, proceed, succeed ● -sede: supersede

Words with the “Seed” Sound