Spelling Rules

 

This is a partial list of the many, many spelling rules.  Please keep in mind that there are exceptions to every rule.  There are also many words that are non-phonetic and do not follow any rules.  These words must be memorized. 

 

Definitions

1. Consonants:

         A. Single consonant: All of the alphabet except a, e, i, o, u.

         B. Consonant diagraphs: two consonants which together make one consonant sound

                  1. Basic diagraphs: ch, sh, th, wh, ng, nk

                  2. Other diagraphs: ck, ph, gh, wr, kn, gn, mn, mb

         C. Blends: two or three consonants said together, each keeping its own  sound: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, scr, bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sc, sk, sm, sn, sp,st, sw, tw

2. Vowels:

         A. Single vowels: a, e, i, o, u, sometimes y

         B. Vowel diagraphs: a single vowel is always long, the second silent:  ai, ay, ea, ee, ei, ie, oa, oe, oo, ou, ow, ue, ui

3. Syllable: a word or part of a word that contains one vowel sound

 

4. Suffix: an ending added onto a root word: er, ed, ing, est

       

 

Phonetic Rules for Spelling

 

 

1. Vowel Rule 1: When there is only one vowel in a word or syllable and the vowel comes between two consonants, the vowel is usually short.

         ex. back, fed, gun, cut, fig

 

2. Vowel Rule 2: When there is only one vowel in a word or syllable and the vowel comes at the beginning of the word, the vowel is usually short.

         ex: egg, off, it, add, us

 

3. Vowel Rule 3: When there are two vowels in a word or syllable, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent.  "When 2 vowels go walking, the first one does the talking."

         ex: maid, hear, cute, coat, tied

 

4. Vowel Rule 4: When there is only one vowel in a word or syllable and the vowel comes at the end, the vowel is usually long.

         ex: why, no, he

 

5. Vowel Rule 5: When a is followed by u, w, r, ll, and lt in the same syllable, it often has the third sound of a, the Italian a.

         ex: haul, pause, scar, fall, pawn, fault

 

6. Vowel Rule 6:  When Y comes at the end of a two or more syllable word, Y has the sound of long e if the Y syllable is unaccented.

         ex: funny, penny, soapy, flaky, tidy

 

7. Vowel Rule 7: When Y comes at the end of a two or more syllable word, Y has the sound of long i if the Y syllable is accented.

         ex: defy, comply, identify, supply, multiply

 

8. Vowel Rule 8: When words  end with the suffix -ing, -ed, or -er, thee first vowel is usually short if it comes between two consonants.

         ex: skinned, helper, canned, robber, shunned

 

9. Vowel Rule 9: When words end with the suffix -ing, -ed, or -er, the first vowel is usually long if it comes before a single consonant.

         ex: tamer, noted, user, zoning, cubed,

 

Basic Spelling Rules

         

1.-ck: The /k/ sound at the end of a one syllable, short vowel word is usually spelled -ck. It is also used in two syllable words ending in -et and -le.

         ex: back, flick, truck, neck, clock

         ex: jacket, tickle

 

2. The letter c  usually has the soft sound of /s/ when it comes before an e, i, or y. It has the hard sound of /k/ when it comes before an a, o, or u.

         ex: city, cell, cycle

         ex: come, can, cut

 

3. The letter g usually has the soft sound of /j/ when it comes before an e, i, or y. It has the hard sound when it comes before an a, o, or u.

         ex: gym, gem, gin

         ex: go, game, gun

 

4. FLOSS Rule: In a one syllable word double the final f, l, s, and z after a single vowel.

         ex: staff, tell, miss, buzz, roll

(common exceptions: if, clef, gas, this, us, yes, bus, plus)

 

*Final -s sounded as /z/ is never doubled.

         ex: as, is, was, has, his

 

5. -tch: Use -tch to spell the /ch/ sound after one short vowel at the end of a one syllable word and also in a few two syllable words.

         ex: patch, itch, stretch, kitchen

(common exceptions: such, much, rich, which)

 

6. -dge: Use -dge to spell the /j/ sound after one short vowel on the end of a one syllable word and also in a few two syllable words.

         ex: judge, bridge, dodge, gadget

 

7. Silent -e:

         A. Silent -e on the end of a word "makes" the single vowel before it  long.  This is called the "magic e rule."

         ex: hop-hope, can-cane, pin-pine, cut-cute

         B. It makes y = /i/- type, style

 

8. -ve: A final /v/ sound is always spelled -ve.

         ex: gave, have, behave

 

9. -zz, -ze: A word never ends with a single z.

         A. Use -zz after a short vowel.

         B. Use -ze after long vowels or vowel combinations

         ex: fizz, buzz, freeze, ooze

 

10. q, v, w, x, and y:  These letters are never doubled.