Spelling Rules in English
Top 10 Spelling Rules in English
At first glance, spelling in English looks complicated. However, with practice, you will soon discover that it is not as bad as it initially looks. This lesson covers 10 important spelling rules that will help you master English spelling. Learning to spell correctly is important for the following reasons:- Correct spelling ensures that written messages are clear and easily understood, preventing confusion and misinterpretation.
- It helps improve overall writing skills. Confident spellers can focus on expressing their ideas, rather than being hinderd by constant corrections and revisions.
- It reflects professionalism and attention to detail, whether in academic, professional, or personal contexts.
- It fosters language appreciation and a deeper understanding of English, allowing appreciation of the rich history and etymology of words
Table of Contents
- (1) Adding a suffix to word ending "-y"
- (2) Adding "-es" to a word ending "-s," "-ss," "-z," "-ch," "-sh", or "-x"
- (3) Dropping the "-e"
- (4) Writing "i" before "e" except after "c"
- (5) Changing "-f" to "-ves"
- (6) Doubling the final consonant
- (7) Adding the suffix "-ful"
- (8) Adding the suffix "-ly"
- (9) Adding the prefix "al-"
- (10) Adding "-s" or -"-es" to a word ending "-o"
(1) Adding a suffix to word ending "-y"
If the suffix starts with e, change the y to an i.word ending -y | suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
cry | -ed | cried |
ugly | -est | ugliest |
family | -es | families |
words ending -y | suffix | correct spellings |
---|---|---|
cry, try, tidy | -ing | crying, trying, tidying |
words ending [two consonants] + y | suffix | correct spellings |
---|---|---|
happy, funny, jolly | -ly | happily, funnily, jollily |
word ending [two consonants] + y | suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
sly | -ly | slyly not slyily |
(2) Adding "-es" to a word ending "-s," "-ss," "-z," "-ch," "-sh", or "-x"
There are two reasons to add -s or -es to the end of a word:- To make a noun plural (e.g., cat > cats, tree > trees)
- To make a verb fit with "he," "she," or "it" (e.g., he looks, she thinks, it likes)
example word | reason to add "-s" or "-es" | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
bus | make plural | buses |
fox | make plural | foxes |
business | make plural | businesss |
catch | verb change | he catches |
wash | verb change | it washes |
box | verb change | he boxs |
(3) Dropping the "-e"
Drop the silent e to add a suffix that starts with a vowel (e.g., -ing, -ed, -er, -est, -able).example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
write | -ing | writing |
imagine | -able | imaginable |
loose | -est | loosest |
opposite | -ion | opposition |
promote | -able | promoteable |
example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
courage | -ous | courageous |
notice | -able | noticeable |
example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
stage | -ing | staging |
splice | -ing | splicing |
(4) Writing "i" before "e" except after "c"
If you're unsure whether to use ie or ei, follow this well-known rhyme:- i before e except after c
uncertainty | comment | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
believe or beleive? | i before e | believe |
recieve or receive? | after c, so switch | receive |
cieling or ceiling? | after c, so switch | ceiling |
uncertainty | comment | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
ancient or anceint? | c sounds like sh | ancient |
efficient or efficeint? | c sounds like sh | efficient |
uncertainty | comment | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
weigh or wiegh? | pairing sounds like A | weigh |
freight or frieght? | pairing sounds like A | freight |
- conscience, counterfeit, either, foreign, forfeit, height, leisure, neither, science, seize, species, sufficient, weird
(5) Changing "-f" to "-ves"
When pluralizing a word ending -f, use the -ves ending.example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
leaf, knife, shelf | leaves, knives, shelves |
example word | correct spellings |
---|---|
dwarf | dwarves, dwarfs |
scarf | scarves, scarfs |
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
chief, roof, belief | chiefs, roofs, beliefs |
Exceptions 3: If the word ends -ff, add -s.
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
cliff, sniff | cliffs, sniffs |
(6) Doubling the final consonant
If a one-syllable word ends vowel + consonant, double the final consonant before a vowel suffix.example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
sit | -ing | sitting |
big | -er | bigger |
tap | -able | tappable |
thin | -est | thinnest |
With multi-syllable words, apply the same rule if the final syllable is stressed.
example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
refer | -ing | referring |
begin | -er | beginner |
tap | -able | tappable |
example word | vowel suffix | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
offer | -ing | offering |
develop | -er | developer |
(7) Adding the suffix "-ful"
The suffix -ful always has one l.example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
faith, care | faithful, careful |
(8) Adding the suffix "-ly"
If a word ends -e, add -ly.example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
love, live, definite | lovely, lively, definitely |
truly
not truely .
If a word ends -le, remove the -e and add -y.
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
gentle, subtle | gently, subtly |
(9) Adding the prefix "al-"
The prefix al- comes from "all," but it always has one l.correct spellings |
---|
also, always, almighty, already |
(10) Adding "-s" or -"-es" to a word ending "-o"
The he/she/it version of go and do are goes and does.verb | reason to add "-s" or "-es" | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
do | verb change | he does |
go | verb change | it goes |
words for "-es" | correct spellings |
---|---|
domino, echo, embargo, hero, mosquito, potato, tomato, torpedo, veto | dominoes, echoes, embargoes, heroes, mosquitoes, potatoes, tomatoes, torpedoes, vetoes |
If the word ends vowel + o, add -s.
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
patio, video, tattoo | patios, videos, tattoos |
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
solo, soprano, banjo, cello, piano | solos, sopranos, banjos, cellos, pianos |
example word | long form | correct spelling |
---|---|---|
photo | photograph | photos |
hippo | hippopotamus | hippos |
kilo | kilogram | kilos |
typo | typographical error | typos |
example words | correct spellings |
---|---|
stiletto, kimono, taco, inferno | stilettos, kimonos, tacos, infernos |
example word | acceptable plurals |
---|---|
buffalo | buffalos or buffaloes |
cargo | cargos or cargoes |
fresco | frescos or frescoes |
ghetto | ghettos or ghettoes |
halo | halos or haloes |
mango | mangos or mangoes |
memento | mementos or mementoes |
motto | mottos or mottoes |
tornado | tornados or tornadoes |
volcano | volcanos or volcanoes |
zero | zeros or zeroes |
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