SPELLING RULES Back to the basics…

i before e rule  There are actually 925 exceptions to the “i before e rule” * Only 44 words in the English language adhere to the rule. * The Oxford Dictionary states: “The rule only applies when the sound represented is ‘ee’, though. It doesn’t apply to words like science or efficient, in which the –ie- combination does follow the letter c but isn’t pronounced ‘ee’.”

Suffixes…  Final silent -E Suffix -an affix that follows the element to which it is added, as -ly in kindly. In other words…something added to the end of something else. Generally, drop a final silent e when adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Keep the final e if the suffix begins with a consonant. combine, combinationachieve, achievement desire, desiringcare, careful prude, prudishentire, entirety Remove, removablegentle, gentleness

Final - y  When adding s or d to words ending in y, ordinarily change y to ie when the y is preceded by a consonant but not when it is preceded by a vowel. comedy, comediesmonkey, monkeys dry, driedplay, played Exceptions: With proper names ending in y, however, do not change the y to ie even if it is preceded by a consonant. Example: the Daugherty family becomes the Daughertys.

Final Consonants…  If a final consonant is precede by a single vowel and the consonant ends a one-syllable word or stressed syllable, double the consonant when adding a suffix beginning with a vowel. Examples: bet, bettingoccur, occurrence commit, committed

Plurals  S or ES – Add s to form the plural of most nouns; add es to singular nouns ending in s, sh, ch, and x. table, tableschurch, churches paper, papersdish, dishes * Ordinarily add s to nouns ending in o when the o is preceded by a vowel. Add es when it is preceded by a consonant. radio, radioshero, heroes video, videostomato, tomatoes

Other Plurals  To form the plural of a hyphenated compound word, add s to the chief word even if it does not appear at the end. mother-in-law, mothers-in-lawbrother-in-arms, brothers-in-arms English words derived from other languages such as Latin or French sometimes form the plural as they would in their original language. medium, mediachateau, chateaux criterion, criteria