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Teaching & Learning Centre Fact SheetsUniversity of New England

SPELLING CHECKERS will be quite helpful when you need to apply rules to word building.However, the rules for American spelling differ from Australian spelling. You can set yourcomputer to English (Australia) OR be prepared to use a good Australian dictionary to check forwords that use American spelling. Try to choose Australian standards and BE CONSISTENT.

Spelling rulesSome spelling rules are worth learning; others are too complicated or have too many exceptions.Instead of learning ALL the rules, focus on learning rules which address your particular spellingproblems. Following is some helpful information on the rules for building new words:1. Words for discussing spelling

2. Ten common spelling rules3. Rules for Australian and American spelling

1. Words for discussing spelling

VOWELSa, e, i, oand uare vowels. CONSONANTSthe other 21 letters of the alphabet. PREFIXelement added to the front of a word (e.g. un/in=not, pre=before, anti=against)

SUFFIX

element added to the end of a word (e.g. -ing, -able, -ed, -ly, -ful, -ment, -tion) SYLLABLEa word or section of a word with a single sound (e.g. read, fa_mous, dif_fi_cult) STRESSthe emphasis given to a syllable (see underlined syllables: famous, focus, occur, infer)

2. Ten common spelling rules

Rule Examples Memorise1. ie or eiWrite ibefore e, except after c

Write ie aftercfor words with ashen sound.

Write eiwhen the vowels soundslike an a as in 'weigh'

achieve, believe, friend receive, receipt,perceive

ancient, efficient, sufficient, conscience

neighbour, vein, reign, rein, deign

Exceptions:Words like counterfeit,either, neither, height,leisure, forfeit , foreign,science, species,seize, weird

2. s or esAdd es if a word ends in ch, sh, ss,

xorz

Add es for most words ending in o

arch > arches, clash > clashes, class >classes, box > boxes, quiz > quizzes

tomato > tomatoes, hero > heroes, go > goes,do > does, echo > echoes

Exceptions:Words like altos, duos,pianos, radios, solossopranos, studios,videos, typos

3. y to ior notFor words ending in ypreceded by

a vowel, retain the ywhen addings or a suffix.

For words ending in y, retain the ywhen adding ing.

For words ending in y, preceded bya consonant, change the yto ibefore any other suffix

convey > conveys, employ > employer

try > trying, justify > justifying, certify >certifying, study > studying

try > tried, justify > justifies, certify >certifiable, mystify > mystified, laboratory >laboratories

Exceptions:Words like dryness,shyness

4. drop the final eDROP the e when the suffix starts

with a vowel.

DROP the e when the word ends indge.

DROP the final e when adding -ing

save > savable, use > usable

judge > judgment

save >saving, manage > managing, trace >tracing, emerge > emerging

Exceptions:DO NOT DROP the e ifthe word ends in ce orge (e.g. manage >manageable, trace >traceable)

7/29/2019 rules of spelling

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Teaching & Learning Centre Fact SheetsUniversity of New England

Rule Examples Memorise5. tor tt when adding -ing,-ed and some suffixes to verbsDOUBLE the tfor verbs of one

syllable with a single vowel, or ashort vowel sound.

DOUBLE the tfor verbs of morethan one syllable when thestress is on the last syllable.

rot > rotting, rotted, rottenfit > fitting, fittedknot > knotting, knotted

abet > abetting, abettingallot > allotting, allotted

commit > committing, committedemit > emitting, emittedforget > forgetting, forgotten (but forgetful)

Exceptions:DO NOT DOUBLE the tfor verbs of one syllablewith a double vowel or along vowel sound(e.g. treat > treating,

treated; greet > greeting,greeted)

6. r or rr when adding -ing,-ed and some suffixes to verbsDOUBLE the rfor verbs of one

syllable when the final rispreceded by a single vowel.

DOUBLE the rfor words of morethan one syllable when thestress does not fall on the firstsyllable.

star > starring, starred, starrytar > tarring, tarredwar > warring, warred (but warfare)scar > scarring, scarredstir > stirring, stirred

concur > concurring, concurred, concurrenceoccur > occurring, occurred, occurrencedefer > deferring, deferred, (but deference)deter > deterring, deterring, deterrent

infer > inferring, inferred, (but inference)prefer > preferred, preferring, (but preference)refer > referred, referring, referral

Exceptions:DO NOT DOUBLE the rfor verbs of one syllablewhen the final rispreceded by a doublevowel (e.g. fear >fearing,feared)

DO NOT DOUBLE the rfor words of more than

one syllable, when thestress falls on the firstsyllable (e.g. prosper >prospered, prospering)

7. lor llwhen adding -ing,-ed and some suffixes to verbsDOUBLE the lwhen it is precededby a single vowel.

cancel > cancelling, cancelled, cancellationenrol > enrolling, enrolled (but enrolment)fulfil > fulfilling, fulfilled, fulfillmentlevel > levelling, levelledtravel > travelling, travelled, traveller

Exceptions:DO NOT DOUBLE the lwhen it is preceded by adouble vowel (e.g. conceal> concealing, concealed)

8. Dropping lettersMany words drop a letter whenadding a suffix, but it isnot always the final letter

argue > argument; proceed > procedure;humour > humorous; disaster > disastrous;

repeat > repetition; administer > administration

There is no reliable rulecovering these words, sothey simply have to be

memorised.

9. Word endings such asable/ible, ant/ance; ent/ence

negligible, incredible, invisible, sensible,

admirable, preventable, suitable, dependable

attendance, ignorance,nuisance, importance

sentence, difference ,independence, intelligence

There is no reliable rulecovering these words, sothey simply have to bememorised.

10. Silent lettersSome words include letters whichare not pronounced when the wordis spoken.

advertisement, campaign, column, debt, design,doubt, gauge, ghetto, heir, knife, knowledge,island, mortgage, often, pneumatic, rhythm,solemn,subtle

There is no reliable rulecovering these words, sothey simply have to bememorised.

3. Rules for Australian and American spellingThere are often considerable differences between Australian and American spelling. Youshould use Australian spelling in preference to American spelling, but if American spellingacceptable, then make sure you use it CONSISTENTLYin your essay.

Examples

-re/-er(use -re for spelling words e.g. theatre, litre, centre, calibre, sombre, fibreNOT theater, liter, center)-our/-or(use -our for spelling words e.g. colour, honour, neighbourNOT color, honor, neighbor)-ise/-ize (both are acceptable; but the Australian preference is for -ise e.g. criticise rather than criticize)other common words (e.g. aeroplaneNOT airplane; travellerNOT traveler; defenceNOT defense)