subject: British Academics - Useful Spelling Rules [print this page] British Academics - Useful Spelling Rules
English is likely the most challenging spelled language in the world maybe because of its long history as a written language. This makes it even harder for students because the spellings of many words do not particularly follow how words are pronounced because of the rules set for it. You should not rely on spell check on your computers because these programs are not as comprehensive as that of collegiate dictionaries.
There are various rules that apply in spelling. Many of the rules are very complex and require a reference or manual to present several examples to better understand spelling. For example, under spelling is the capitalization of words, under capitalization, there are sub-categories that is relevant for certain words. Another is that, there are some words that are no longer vogue and have already been replaced. There are also few exceptions that apply to the spellings of words. Again, to learn more regarding this topic, consult more references related to this topic so that you can better grasp the rules of spelling; this article will only be your guide for some of the most common spelling rules. Learn to use some of the rules presented below to improve your spelling.
1. For words that end with the "v" sound should be spelled with the letters "ve" at the end.
2. In a formal text, spell out numbers that can be written in one or two words.
e.g. The building stands for almost one hundred years. vs. The building stands for almost 100 years.
3. Spell a word with the letter "i" which comes before "e" except after "c." REMEMBER the name ALICE. This will remind you to put the I before the E and after the C.
e.g. achieve, field, believe, field, friend, premier, couturier (note the use of conceive, receive)
4. When a word ends with "y" followed by a consonant, change the form to the plural of the word by replacing the "y" to "i" and then add "es."
e.g. worry to worries, country to countries, carry to carries, lady to ladies, phony to phonies, body to bodies
5. Remove the final silent "e" when attaching a suffix that begins with a vowel.
e.g. stagnate to stagnatory, change to changing, traipse to traipsing, note to notable, nerve to nervous
*Examples: changing, notable, nervous
6. When a attaching suffix that begins with a consonant, keep the silent "e" on the word.
e.g. use to useful, love to lovely, live to lively, hope to hopeless
7. For a one-syllable word that ends in a vowel followed by a consonant, double the final consonant when adding a suffix.
e.g. rob to robbed, top to topped, bag to baggage, swim to swimmer, hit to hitting, jam to jamming,
8. The letter "q" in a word must be followed by "u."
e.g. equation, antique, quack, sequence, quick, inquire, query, torque
9. When attaching a prefix, do not change the word.
e.g. build to rebuild, angle to quadrangle, convict to ex-convict, charge to discharge, conducting to nonconducting
