SAT Spelling TipsSAT Spelling Tips

The Spelling Rules The Spelling Rules

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1.1. ““I” before “E” except after “C” or when said I” before “E” except after “C” or when said as “Ä” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.” I as “Ä” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.” I believebelieve I will I will receivereceive a blanket from my a blanket from my neighborneighbor..

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2.2. There are many exceptions to the “I” before There are many exceptions to the “I” before “E” rule and here they are: weird, height, “E” rule and here they are: weird, height, seize, leisure, either, neither, and protein.seize, leisure, either, neither, and protein.

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3. 3. The only English word ending in The only English word ending in –sede –sede is is supersede.supersede. The only English words ending The only English words ending in in –ceed –ceed are are exceed, proceed, exceed, proceed, and and succeed.succeed. All other words that end in this sound will be All other words that end in this sound will be spelled with spelled with –cede.–cede.

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4.4. When adding the suffix When adding the suffix –ness –ness or or –ly–ly to a to a word, do not change the spelling of the word word, do not change the spelling of the word itselfitself

sudden + ness = suddennesssudden + ness = suddenness truthful + ly = truthfully.truthful + ly = truthfully.

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5.5. When adding a prefix to a word, do not When adding a prefix to a word, do not change the spelling of the word itself: change the spelling of the word itself:

il + logical = illogicalil + logical = illogical mis + spell = misspellmis + spell = misspell un + natural = unnatural.un + natural = unnatural.

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6.6. Drop the final silent “e” before adding a Drop the final silent “e” before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel: suffix beginning with a vowel:

nice + est = nicestnice + est = nicest love + ing = loving love + ing = loving

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7.7. You do not drop the silent “e” in words You do not drop the silent “e” in words ending in “ce” and “ge” before a suffix ending in “ce” and “ge” before a suffix beginning with “a” or “o”:beginning with “a” or “o”:

notice + able = noticeablenotice + able = noticeable courage + ous = courageous courage + ous = courageous

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8.8. You need to keep the final silent “e” adding You need to keep the final silent “e” adding a suffix that begins with a consonant: a suffix that begins with a consonant:

care + less = carelesscare + less = careless false + hood = falsehoodfalse + hood = falsehood

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9.9. When words end in “y” that is preceded by a When words end in “y” that is preceded by a consonant, change the “y” to “i” when consonant, change the “y” to “i” when adding a suffix unless the suffix begins with adding a suffix unless the suffix begins with an “i”: an “i”:

beauty + ful = beautifulbeauty + ful = beautiful carry + ing = carryingcarry + ing = carrying envy + able = enviable envy + able = enviable

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10. 10. Please remember if the word ends in “y” Please remember if the word ends in “y” preceding a vowel does not change when you preceding a vowel does not change when you add a suffix: add a suffix:

pay + ment = paymentpay + ment = payment buy + er = buyer buy + er = buyer

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11. 11. Always remember to double the final Always remember to double the final consonant before adding the suffixes consonant before adding the suffixes

-ing, -ed, -er,-ing, -ed, -er, or or –est –est to a one syllable word to a one syllable word that ends in a single consonant preceded by a that ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel: single vowel:

hit + er = hitterhit + er = hitter quiz + es = quizzes quiz + es = quizzes

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12. 12. The exception to the double consonant rule is The exception to the double consonant rule is when words end with “w” or “x”:when words end with “w” or “x”:

mow + ed = mowedmow + ed = mowed wax + ing = waxing wax + ing = waxing

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13. 13. Remember when forming plural nouns Remember when forming plural nouns ending in “o” that precedes a vowel, just add ending in “o” that precedes a vowel, just add “-s”: video + s = videos and ratio + s = “-s”: video + s = videos and ratio + s = ratios. For musical terms just add an “-s” if ratios. For musical terms just add an “-s” if the word ends in “o”: piano = pianos, alto = the word ends in “o”: piano = pianos, alto = altos, and trio = trios altos, and trio = trios

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14. 14. Remember when forming plural nouns Remember when forming plural nouns ending in “o” that precedes a consonant, you ending in “o” that precedes a consonant, you need to add an “-es”: need to add an “-es”:

hero = heroeshero = heroes tomato = tomatoestomato = tomatoes potato = potatoes potato = potatoes The only exception is silo = silos The only exception is silo = silos

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15. 15. Some words that end in “o” can be spelled Some words that end in “o” can be spelled with either “-es” or “s”:with either “-es” or “s”:

banjos/banjoesbanjos/banjoes flamingos/flamingoes flamingos/flamingoes

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16. 16. Some nouns change their spelling completely Some nouns change their spelling completely to form the plural version: to form the plural version:

ox = oxenox = oxen mouse = micemouse = mice octopus = octopi octopus = octopi

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17. 17. Some nouns have the same spelling for both Some nouns have the same spelling for both the singular form and plural form:the singular form and plural form:

fish = fishfish = fish tuna = tunatuna = tuna salmon = salmonsalmon = salmon Chinese = ChineseChinese = Chinese moose = moose moose = moose

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18. 18. This is also true for irregular verbs. They This is also true for irregular verbs. They have the same spelling for both the present have the same spelling for both the present and past tense:and past tense:

HitHit BurstBurst HurtHurt PutPut Let Let

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Affect & EffectAffect & Effect Affect = influence (verb). What affect does Affect = influence (verb). What affect does

that medicine have?that medicine have? Effect = result (noun) or to bring about (verb). Effect = result (noun) or to bring about (verb).

You need to write a cause and effect essay.You need to write a cause and effect essay.

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Continuous & ContinualContinuous & Continual Continuous = something that never stops Continuous = something that never stops

(adj.). His talking was continuous.(adj.). His talking was continuous. Continual = something that starts and stops Continual = something that starts and stops

over and over (adj.). We will begin our over and over (adj.). We will begin our continual coverage of the election in ½ hr.continual coverage of the election in ½ hr.

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Except & AcceptExcept & Accept Except = to exclude or leave out (verb). I will Except = to exclude or leave out (verb). I will

allow everyone to turn in late work, except allow everyone to turn in late work, except Kalani.Kalani.

Accept = to receive (verb). I will gladly Accept = to receive (verb). I will gladly accept this award.accept this award.

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Farther & FurtherFarther & Further Farther = means distance. How much farther Farther = means distance. How much farther

do we have to go?do we have to go? Further = talks about time and intensity. Further = talks about time and intensity.

Without further hesitation, Harry leapt onto Without further hesitation, Harry leapt onto the dragon’s scaly back.the dragon’s scaly back.

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Fewer & LessFewer & Less Fewer = describes items that you can count Fewer = describes items that you can count

(i.e. books, flowers, and boats). You need to (i.e. books, flowers, and boats). You need to make fewer mistakes.make fewer mistakes.

Less = describes items that you measure (i.e. Less = describes items that you measure (i.e. ability, intensity, and headaches). I want less ability, intensity, and headaches). I want less talking, please.talking, please.

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Good & WellGood & Well Good = describes nouns and pronouns (adj.). Good = describes nouns and pronouns (adj.).

That’s a good job.That’s a good job. Well = describes how you are doing or how Well = describes how you are doing or how

you did on something (adv.). I did well on my you did on something (adv.). I did well on my test.test.

Well = also describes how you are physically Well = also describes how you are physically feeling. I feel well today.feeling. I feel well today.

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Lie & LayLie & Lay Lie = means to recline. I like to lie down and Lie = means to recline. I like to lie down and

take a nap. take a nap. Lay = Lay = means to place something down. means to place something down.

Please lay the book on the table.Please lay the book on the table. Lay =Lay = can also be past tense for can also be past tense for lielie. I had to . I had to

lay down for awhile. lay down for awhile.

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May & CanMay & Can May = asking for permission. May I go to the May = asking for permission. May I go to the

bathroom? bathroom? CanCan = = you have the physical ability to do you have the physical ability to do

something. I can give my impromptu speech something. I can give my impromptu speech now.now.

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Bad & BadlyBad & Badly Bad = adjective and modifies either a noun or Bad = adjective and modifies either a noun or

pronoun. The bad kitty tore up the sofa.pronoun. The bad kitty tore up the sofa. Badly = adverb and will explain how Badly = adverb and will explain how

something is doing. I did badly on my test something is doing. I did badly on my test today. today.

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Earth & earthEarth & earth Earth = capitalized, it is referring to the planet. Earth = capitalized, it is referring to the planet.

The planet Earth is third from the sun. The planet Earth is third from the sun. When “earth” is in lower case, it is referring to When “earth” is in lower case, it is referring to

the ground. The earth was parched from a the ground. The earth was parched from a lack of rain water. lack of rain water.

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Stationary & StationeryStationary & Stationery StationaryStationary = adjective and means to be in a = adjective and means to be in a

fixed position. Is that a stationary bike? fixed position. Is that a stationary bike? StationeryStationery = noun and is a piece of writing = noun and is a piece of writing

paper. That is beautiful stationery. paper. That is beautiful stationery.

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Formally & FormerlyFormally & Formerly FormallyFormally = = dignity or following strict rules dignity or following strict rules

and procedures. As beneficiaries of and procedures. As beneficiaries of Ke Ali’iKe Ali’i Pauahi’s legacy, you must always carry Pauahi’s legacy, you must always carry yourself formally when representing the yourself formally when representing the school. school.

FormerlyFormerly = = something that occurred at an something that occurred at an earlier date; previously. Formerly, people earlier date; previously. Formerly, people thought the sun revolved around the Earth.thought the sun revolved around the Earth.

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Council & CounselCouncil & Counsel Council = group called together to accomplish Council = group called together to accomplish

a job. The council advised the virtuoso to go a job. The council advised the virtuoso to go to Julliard. to Julliard.

Counsel = noun means advice. He needs legal Counsel = noun means advice. He needs legal counsel in the matter. As a verb, counsel counsel in the matter. As a verb, counsel means to give advice. He was counseled not means to give advice. He was counseled not to make glib remarks to the teacher.to make glib remarks to the teacher.

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Capital & CapitolCapital & Capitol CapitalCapital = city or the location of government. = city or the location of government.

The capital of Hawai’i is on O’ahu. The capital of Hawai’i is on O’ahu. CapitolCapitol = building or statehouse. The capitol = building or statehouse. The capitol

has a golden dome on the top. has a golden dome on the top.

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Already & All readyAlready & All ready Already = previously and is a prep. We have Already = previously and is a prep. We have

already digressed from the topic.already digressed from the topic. All readyAll ready = adjective and means all prepared = adjective and means all prepared

or in readiness. The muse is all ready to go on or in readiness. The muse is all ready to go on stage.stage.

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No such thing as No such thing as irregardlessirregardless; it’s regardless.; it’s regardless. Never say, “The reason is because…”; instead Never say, “The reason is because…”; instead

say, “The reason is that…”say, “The reason is that…” Could of/Should of/Would of is wrong; Could of/Should of/Would of is wrong;

replace “of” with “have.” replace “of” with “have.”

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All right & AlrightAll right & Alright All right = as an adj. it means safe & sound as All right = as an adj. it means safe & sound as

an adv. it means yes & very wellan adv. it means yes & very well Alright = is actually incorrect and shouldn’t be Alright = is actually incorrect and shouldn’t be

used in formal writingused in formal writing