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.