Download Spelling Rules Chapter 27 27a.To learn the spelling of a word

Spelling Rules
Chapter 27
27a.To learn the spelling of a word, pronounce it, study it, and write it.
27b. Write ie when the sound is long e, except after c
EX. chief
27c. Write ei when the sound is NOT long e.
EX. freight
27d. Only English word ending in –sede is supersede
Only words ending in –ceed are exceed, proceed, succeed
Most other words with this sound end in –cede
EX: recede
27e. When adding a prefix, do not change the spelling of the original word
EX: mis + spell = misspell
27f. When adding the suffix –ly or –ness, do NOT change the spelling of the original word. EX. Nice + ly = nicely
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) Words ending in y usually change the y to i before – ness and –ly
EX: easy – easily
(2) Most one-syllable adjectives ending in y follow 27f
EX: shy—shyly
(3) True, due, and whole drop the final e before –ly
EX: true—truly
27g. Drop the final silent e before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.
EX dine + ing = dining
EXCEPTIONS
(1) Keep the final silent e in most words ending in ce or ge before a suffix beginning with a or o
EX: Service + able = serviceable
Sometimes the e becomes i, as in gracious and spacious.
(2) To avoid confusion with other words, keep the final silent e in some words:
dye and dying, singeing and singing
(3) mile + age = mileage
27h. Keep the final silent e before adding a suffix beginning with a consonant
EXCEPTIONS:
true + ly = truly
awe + ful = awful
nine + th = ninth
argue + ment = argument
EX: use + ful = useful
27i. Words ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i before
adding any suffix that does not begin with i.
EX: lively + ness = liveliness
27j. Words ending in y preceded by a vowel, simply add the suffix
EX: play + ful = playful
EXCEPTIONS: lay—laid pay—paid
say—said
day—daily
27k. Double the final consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel if the word
(1) Has only one syllable or has the accent on the final syllable AND
(2) Ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel
EX: drop + ed = dropped
Otherwise, simply add the suffix:
jump + ed = jumped
Forming Plurals of Nouns
27L. To form plurals of most English nouns, simply add s.
EX: dogs
27m.
(1) For nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add es
EX: glass = glasses
(2) For nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, change y to I and add es.
EX: city = cities
(3) For some nouns ending in f or fe, add s.
EX: belief = beliefs
For others, change the f or fe to v and add es
EX: wolf = wolves
NOTE: Some nouns can correctly form their plurals either way:
hoof = hooves OR hoofs
scarf = scarves OR scarfs
(4) For nouns ending in o preceded by a vowel, add s
EX: patio = patios
(5) For most nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant, add es
EX: tomato = tomatoes
For some common nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant
(especially those referring to music) and for proper nouns, add s.
EX: soprano = sopranos
NOTE: for some nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant,
you may add either s or es
EX: cargo = cargos OR cargoes
(6) The plurals of a few nouns are formed irregularly
Child = children ox = oxen woman = women tooth = teeth
(7) For a few nouns, the singular and plural forms are the same
Chinese scissors salmon sheep aircraft binoculars
mouse = mice
foot = feet
Compound Nouns
(8) For most compound nouns, form the plural of only the last word
of the compound
(9) For compound nouns in which one of the words is modified by the
other word or words, form the plural of the word modified (1st one)
NOTE: some compound nouns have two acceptable plural forms
EX: bookkeeper = bookkeepers
EX: editor in chief = editors in chief
EX: surgeon general
surgeons general OR
surgeon generals
(10) For some nouns borrowed from other Latin and Greek, plurals are formed as in the original languages.
Singular
Plural
alumnus [male]
alumni [male]
alumna [female]
alumnae
analysis
analyses
crisis
crises
datum
data
NOTE: A few nouns borrowed from Greek and Latin have two acceptable plural forms. For each of the
following nouns, the plural form preferred in English is given first.
Singular
Plural
formula
formulas OR formulae
index
indexes OR indices
cactus
cactuses OR cacti
seraph
seraphs OR seraphim
(11) Plurals of numerals, most capital letters, symbols, and most words referred to as words, add an s or
both an apostrophe and an s.
Singular
Plural
8
8s OR 8’s
EX: His 7s [or 7’s] look like Ts [or T’s]
1770
1700s OR 1770’s
T
Ts OR T’s
&
&s OR &’s
and
ands OR and’s
If adding an s forms a word or is confusing, add the apostrophe s: His essay is filled with I’s. [Without an
apostrophe, the plural of the pronoun could be confused with the word Is.]
Writing Numbers
27n. Spell out a number that begins a sentence.
EX: Two thousand students attended the meeting.
If a number appears awkward when spelled out, revise the sentence so that it does not begin with the
number.
EX: The number of students who attended was 2,103.
27o. Spell out a numbers that can be expressed in one or two words; use numerals for other numbers.
EX: I have fourteen dogs one thousand Guinea pigs.
Be consistent
Distinguish between numbers side-by-side
EX: Steve received 90 votes, and Darla received 103.
NOT Steve received ninety votes, and Darla received 103.
They bought two 25-pound bags of dog food.
Use numerals for dates when you include the name of the month. Always use numerals for years.
School closes on June 6. (This example could also be
correctly written as the sixth of June, but NOT June 6 th)
27p. Spell out numbers used to indicate order
EX: My brother graduated second (NOT 2rd) in his class.