Class Notes
Spelling

Do you remember these rules?  You probably heard them in a previous English course.  BUT no matter what rules you know, your best bet is to check a dictionary.  A dictionary will always show you the standard spelling of a word; it will also show you how the spelling might change when you add endings (or suffixes) to a word.
 

1.  I Before E

Here's the rule, in poetry form to make it easier to memorize:
 
The poem Some examples
I before E
Except after C
And when sounding like "A"
As in neighbor and weigh		 friend, fiend, piece, achieve, believer, lie
receive, deceive, ceiling
weight, eight, their, reign, lei

Here are some exceptions:
           weird (Weird is weird; it doesn't follow the rule.)
           leisure
           either
           neither
            height
 

2.  Change the Y to I

This rule pertains to times when you want to add an ending (or suffix) to words that end in y.  This rule has four variations:
  1. If you are adding –ing to a word, leave the y alone.
      2. cry + ing = crying
      deny + ing = denying
  2. If you are adding any other ending to a word that ends with a consonant and a y, change the y to i.
      3. fly + es = flies
      pity + ful = pitiful
      lonely + ness = loneliness
      easy + ly = easily
  3. If you are adding any ending to a word that ends with a vowel and a y, leave the y alone.
      4. delay + s = delays
      prey + ed = preyed
      joy + ful = joyful
  4. Here is a weird reverse variation on the rule: when you add –ing to words that end in ie, change the ie to y.
      5. lie + ing = lying
      tie + ing = tying
      die + ing = dying

3.  Drop the Silent E

This rule pertains to times when you want to add an ending (or suffix) to words that end with a silent e.  This rule has three variations:
  1. Drop the silent e in most cases when you add endings that begin with vowels.
      2. write + ing = writing
      argue + ed = argued
      shine + y = shiny
      debate + able = debatable
  2. DO NOT drop the silent e in most cases when you add endings that begin with consonants.
      3. sincere + ly = sincerely
      complete + ness = completeness
      advertise + ment = advertisement
  3. DO NOT drop the silent e if dropping it will change the pronunciation of the word.
      4. notice + able = noticeable (without the e, the misspelled noticable would be pronounced "no-tick-able")
    EXCEPTIONS
      judge + ment = judgment
      argue + ment = argument

4.  Double the Final Consonant

These rules pertain to most times when you want to add endings (or suffix) that begin with vowels to words that end with consonants:
  1. If you are adding an ending to a word that ends vowel-vowel-consonant, do not double the final consonant.
      2. pour + ed = poured
      gain + ing = gaining
  2. If you are adding an ending to a word that ends vowel-consonant-consonant, do not double the final consonant.
      3. grasp + ed = grasped
      pretend+ ing = pretending
  3. If you are adding an ending to a one-syllable word that ends consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final consonant.
      4. flap + ed = flapped
      hop + ing = hopping
  4. If you are adding an ending to a two-syllable word that ends consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final consonant if the final syllable is accented (or stressed).
      5. rebél + ed = rebelled
      contról + ing = controlling
      occúr + ence = occurrence
  5. If you are adding an ending to a two-syllable word that ends consonant-vowel-consonant, do not double the final consonant if the final syllable is not accented.
      6. unrável + ing = unraveling

The Bottom Line

The only way to "learn" the correct spelling of words is to write them correctly often.  Another good way to learn how to spell is to read a lot.  As you read, your eyes will become familiar with the correct spelling of the words you see in print.

Also, use your computer's spellchecker, but don't trust it.  It may not always suggest the correct spelling; only you know what you really want to say.  Also, if your misspelled word is a correctly spelled word that you did not intend to use, your computer's spellchecker will miss it (for example, hoping vs. hopping, definitely vs. defiantly, or from vs. form).
 

Check Your Answers

Click HERE to compare your answers (to the exercises, pp. 362-66) to the instructor's answers.
 

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