This is
a list of some of the most common spelling rules. For
a printable version click here
1. To make the long E sound at the ends
of words use Y, EY, or IE. (E at the end of words is usually
silent.)
2. C or K? At the beginning of a syllable
use K before I and E. At the beginning of a syllable use
C before A, O, or U.
3. C,
CK, K, or KE?
- Use
CK at the end of a syllable with a SHORT vowel sound and
no other consonants following the vowel. (examples: duck,
pick)
- Use
K at the end of a syllable with a short vowel sound and
a consonant following the vowel. (examples: ask, bank)
-
Use KE at the end of a syllable with a long vowel sound.
(example: cake, bake) Use just K if there are two vowels
working together to make the long vowel sound. (example:
seek)
-
C is sometimes used in words that have two syllables and
end in IC. (examples music, panic, picnic, magic)
4. J,
G, GE, or DGE?
- In
the beginning of words, G or J can be used to spell the
"J" sound before I, E, or Y. G is used more often.
- J
must be used before A, O, or U in the beginning of words.
- Use
GE or DGE to make the "J" sound at the ends of
a syllable or word.
- Use
DGE at the end of a syllable with a short vowel sound if
the "J" sound immediately follows the vowel, (example:
fudge, gadget, edge); otherwise use GE (example: sponge,
age)
5. In
one syllable words ending in L, F, and S, we often double
them. (example: will, dress, puff)
6. Use
VE at the ends of words. You never see a word end in V.
7. Use
ED to make the "D", "T" or "ED"
sound in verbs.
8. QU
is a pair. Q is not found alone.
9. SH
is used at the beginning of a word, or the end of a syllable.
SH is NOT used at the beginning of a syllable after the first
syllable.
10. SE
or CE? Words ending in the "S" sound will often
use SE or CE even with SHORT vowel sounds.
- CE
is used for words with a long vowel words ending in the
"S" sound.
- SE
or CE can be used for short vowel words ending in the "S"
sound.
11. Doubling
consonants in the middle of words. Often you will see the
consonant doubled in the middle of words with two syllables
and short vowel sounds in both syllables. (example: little,
pattern, gossip)
12. SION
or TION or CIAN are used to spell the "shun" sound
at the ends of words.
- Use
SION when the root word ends in S or D.
- Use
CIAN for root words that have to do with people. (example:
musician, magician)
- Use
TION for everything else.
13. Doubling
final consonant.
- When
a short vowel word with one syllable ends with one consonant,
double the final consonant before adding the vowel suffix.
(example: run, running). Do not double it if there is more
than one consonant. (example: camp, camping)
- In
a two syllable word, double the final consonant, if the
accent is on the last syllable. (example: permitting)
14. Change
the Y at the end of a word to I when adding a suffix except
when adding ING. (example: funny, funnier)
15. Drop
the silent E from a word when adding a vowel suffix.
16. If
a word ends in GE or CE you must keep the silent E before
adding a vowel suffix that ends in A, O, or U.
