Spelling Rules
WORDS ENDING IN A SILENT E
Before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel or y to a word ending in a silent e, drop the e (with some exceptions).
- amaze + -ing = amazing
- love + -able = lovable
- create + -ed = created
- nerve + -ous = nervous
When adding a suffix beginning with a consonant to a word ending in a silent e, keep the e (with some exceptions).
- late + -ly = lately
- spite + -ful = spiteful
- noise + -less = noiseless
- state + -ment = statement
When a suffix beginning with a or o is added to a word with a final silent e, the final e is usually retained if it is preceded by a soft c or a soft g.
- bridge + -able = bridgeable
- peace + -able = peaceable
- outrage + -ous = outrageous
- advantage + -ous = advantageous
When a suffix beginning with a vowel is added to words ending in ee or oe, the final, silent e is retained.
- agree + -ing = agreeing
- free + -ing = freeing
- hoe + -ing = hoeing
- see + -ing = seeing
WORDS ENDING IN Y
Before adding most suffixes to a word that ends in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i.
- easy + -est = easiest
- crazy + -est = craziest
- silly + -ness = silliness
- marry + -age = marriage
Exceptions: dryness, shyness, and slyness.
However, when you add -ing, the y does not change.
- empty + -ed = emptied
but
- empty + -ing = emptying
When you add a suffix to a word that ends in y preceded by a vowel, the y usually does not change.
- play + -er = player
- employ + -ed = employed
- coy + -ness = coyness
- pay + -able = payable
WORDS ENDING IN A CONSONANT
In one-syllable words that end in one consonant preceded by one short vowel, double the final consonant before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel, such as -ed or -ing. These are sometimes called 1+1+1 words.
- dip + -ed = dipped
- set + -ing = setting
- slim + -est = slimmest
- fit + -er = fitter
The rule does not apply to words of one syllable that end in a consonant preceded by two vowels.
- feel + -ing = feeling
- peel + -ed = peeled
- reap + -ed = reaped
- loot + -ed = looted
In words of more than one syllable, double the final consonant when accent is on the last syllable and remains there once the suffix is added, as in the following examples:
- be•gin´ + -ing = be•gin´ ning = beginning
- per•mit´ + -ed = per•mit´ ted = permitted
However, do not double the final consonant when the accent is on the final consonant but does not remain there when the suffix is added.
- tra´vel + er = tra´vel•er = traveler
- mar´ket + er = mar´ket•er = marketer
Do not double the final consonant when the accent is on the first syllable, as in the following examples:
- re•fer´ + -ence = ref´er•ence = reference
- con•fer´ + -ence = con´fer•ence = conference
PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
When adding a prefix to a word, do not change the spelling of the base word. When a prefix creates a double letter, keep both letters.
- dis- + approve = disapprove
- re- + build = rebuild
- ir- + regular = irregular
- mis- + spell = misspell
- anti- + trust = antitrust
- il- + logical = illogical
When adding -ly to a word ending in l, keep both l ’s. When adding -ness to a word ending in n, keep both n’s.
- careful + -ly = carefully
- sudden + -ness = suddenness
- final + -ly = finally
- thin + -ness = thinness
FORMING PLURAL NOUNS
To form the plural of most nouns, just add -s.
- prizes
- dreams
- circles
- stations
For most singular nouns ending in o, add -s.
- solos
- halos
- studios
- photos
- pianos
For a few nouns ending in o, add -es.
- heroes
- tomatoes
- potatoes
- echoes
When the singular noun ends in s, sh, ch, x, or z, add -es.
- waitresses
- brushes
- ditches
- axes
- buzzes
When a singular noun ends in y with a consonant before it, change the y to i and add -es.
- army—armies
- candy—candies
- baby—babies
- diary—diaries
- ferry—ferries
- conspiracy—conspiracies
When a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) comes before the y, just add -s.
- boy—boys
- way—ways
- array—arrays
- alloy—alloys
- weekday—weekdays
- jockey—jockeys
For most nouns ending in f or fe, change the f to v and add -es or -s.
- life—lives
- calf—calves
- knife—knives
- thief—thieves
- shelf—shelves
- loaf—loaves
For some nouns ending in f, add -s to make the plural.
- roofs
- chiefs
- reefs
- beliefs
Some nouns have the same form for both singular and plural.
- deer
- sheep
- moose
- salmon
- trout
For some nouns, the plural is formed in a special way.
- man—men
- goose—geese
- ox—oxen
- woman—women
- mouse—mice
- child—children
For a compound noun written as one word, form the plural by changing the last word in the compound to its plural form.
- stepchild—stepchildren
- irefly—fireflies
If a compound noun is written as a hyphenated word or as two separate words, change the most important word to the plural form.
- brother-in-law—brothers-in-law
- life jacket—life jackets
FORMING POSSESSIVES
If a noun is singular, add ’s.
- mother—my mother’s car
- Ross—Ross’s desk
Exception: The s after the apostrophe is dropped after Jesus’, Moses’, and certain names in classical mythology (Zeus’). These possessive forms can thus be pronounced easily.
If a noun is plural and ends with s, just add an apostrophe.
- parents—my parents’ car
- the Santinis—the Santinis’ house
If a noun is plural but does not end in s, add ’s.
- people—the people’s choice
- women—the women’s coats
SPECIAL SPELLING PROBLEMS
Only one English word ends in -sede: supersede. Three words end in -ceed: exceed, proceed, and succeed. All other verbs ending in the sound “seed” are spelled with -cede.
- concede
- precede
- recede
- secede
In words with ie or ei, when the sound is long e (as in she), the word is spelled ie except after c (with some exceptions).
i before e
- thief
- relieve
- field
- piece
- grieve
- pier
except after c
- conceit
- perceive
- ceiling
- receive
- receipt
Exceptions:
- either
- neither
- weird
- leisure
- seize