lisaann
November 9th, 2007, 02:10 PM
I thought it would be nice to have all of the spelling rules in one handy place to use during teaching. Thought you might like to have a copy. :hat
Spelling Rules
#1 - If a word has one vowel in it, and ends in f, l, or s we usually double the final
consonant.
Kiss Less Muff
exceptions: is, his, this, yes, plus, as, has, was, us
#2 - If a word begins with the k sound and is followed by the sound of e or i or y we use
k.
Kite Keep
If it is followed by a, o, or u, we use c.
Cap Cot Cut
#3 - a. If a word ends in sound of k and has a short vowel just before the k sound, we use
ck.
Back Stack Rack
b. If the vowel is long before the k, we use ke.
Make
c. If there is a vowel and then a sound before the k sound, we use k alone. It does not
matter whether the vowel is long or short.
Dark Bark
d. If there are two vowels before the k, we just use k.
Seek Greek Soak
e. Some words ending in the hard c (which sounds like k) are:
music Phonic Picnic
#4 - Au and aw both say aw. Since we do not end words in au, we use aw at the end
of words.
Flaw Straw
#5 - Ai and ay both say long a. Ai is found in the middle of a word.
Maid Tail
Ay is found at the end of a word.
Day Play
#6 - Adding Suffixes
If a word ends in one consonant and has just one vowel before the consonant, we double the
consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Otherwise just add the suffix.
Hop = Hopped Jump = jumped
cut = cutting Help = helping
#7 - Adding Suffixes
If a word ends in silent e, drop the e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Smile = Smiling Hope = Hoping
#8 - Adding Endings
Words ending in y usually chance the y to i, and then add the ending.
Funny = funnier Happy = happiest
#9 - Use ch at the beginning of a word or after a consonant.
Chat Lunch
Use tch at the end of a word after a vowel.
Match Pitch
#10 - Forming Plurals of Nouns
a. Most nouns form their plurals by adding s or es to the singular.
Car = cars Dress = dresses
b. Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel, add s to the singular to form the plural.
Boy = boys Day = days
c. Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, form the plural by changing the y to
i and adding es.
Baby = babies Candy = candies
d. Some plurals are irregular and no rule can be made for them:
child = children Tooth = teeth
#11 - Forming Possessives of Nouns - (showing ownership)
a. To form the possessive of a singular noun, simply add s to the singular noun.
A boy = a boys hat
a girl = a girls dress
Note: some proper names ending in s can form their possessive in two ways. Jesuss or Jesus.
b. to form the plural possessive, first form the plural of the noun. Then do one of two
things:
1. If this plural ends in s, simply add an apostrophe.
The boys = The boys basketball game
Six girls = Six girls dresses
2. If the plural of the noun does not end in s, add s to make the plural possessive.
Three children = Three childrens toys
The women = The womens meeting
#13 i before e except after c and in words that say /ay/ as in neighbor and weigh.
i before e = fierce niece friend brief
except after c = receive ceiling receipt conceit
ei /ay/ = neighbor weigh eight veil
Spelling Rules
#1 - If a word has one vowel in it, and ends in f, l, or s we usually double the final
consonant.
Kiss Less Muff
exceptions: is, his, this, yes, plus, as, has, was, us
#2 - If a word begins with the k sound and is followed by the sound of e or i or y we use
k.
Kite Keep
If it is followed by a, o, or u, we use c.
Cap Cot Cut
#3 - a. If a word ends in sound of k and has a short vowel just before the k sound, we use
ck.
Back Stack Rack
b. If the vowel is long before the k, we use ke.
Make
c. If there is a vowel and then a sound before the k sound, we use k alone. It does not
matter whether the vowel is long or short.
Dark Bark
d. If there are two vowels before the k, we just use k.
Seek Greek Soak
e. Some words ending in the hard c (which sounds like k) are:
music Phonic Picnic
#4 - Au and aw both say aw. Since we do not end words in au, we use aw at the end
of words.
Flaw Straw
#5 - Ai and ay both say long a. Ai is found in the middle of a word.
Maid Tail
Ay is found at the end of a word.
Day Play
#6 - Adding Suffixes
If a word ends in one consonant and has just one vowel before the consonant, we double the
consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Otherwise just add the suffix.
Hop = Hopped Jump = jumped
cut = cutting Help = helping
#7 - Adding Suffixes
If a word ends in silent e, drop the e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Smile = Smiling Hope = Hoping
#8 - Adding Endings
Words ending in y usually chance the y to i, and then add the ending.
Funny = funnier Happy = happiest
#9 - Use ch at the beginning of a word or after a consonant.
Chat Lunch
Use tch at the end of a word after a vowel.
Match Pitch
#10 - Forming Plurals of Nouns
a. Most nouns form their plurals by adding s or es to the singular.
Car = cars Dress = dresses
b. Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel, add s to the singular to form the plural.
Boy = boys Day = days
c. Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, form the plural by changing the y to
i and adding es.
Baby = babies Candy = candies
d. Some plurals are irregular and no rule can be made for them:
child = children Tooth = teeth
#11 - Forming Possessives of Nouns - (showing ownership)
a. To form the possessive of a singular noun, simply add s to the singular noun.
A boy = a boys hat
a girl = a girls dress
Note: some proper names ending in s can form their possessive in two ways. Jesuss or Jesus.
b. to form the plural possessive, first form the plural of the noun. Then do one of two
things:
1. If this plural ends in s, simply add an apostrophe.
The boys = The boys basketball game
Six girls = Six girls dresses
2. If the plural of the noun does not end in s, add s to make the plural possessive.
Three children = Three childrens toys
The women = The womens meeting
#13 i before e except after c and in words that say /ay/ as in neighbor and weigh.
i before e = fierce niece friend brief
except after c = receive ceiling receipt conceit
ei /ay/ = neighbor weigh eight veil