Choosing the right word for the sentence, and spelling it correctly make the all difference when writing a term paper, essay, or piece for publication. This article delves into the world of correct spelling for the English writer. Some great tips.
It seems that in the period since I have been out of school, I have forgotten how to spell many words. I had very little confidence in that area and found myself constantly checking my dictionary. I discover that if you learn a few basic patterns in the English language, and then the exceptions, you should find
your writing moves along more quickly with less time spent on editing( or is it editting?). English is a tough language to master. Some of the letters sound the same, some of them are silent, some of the letters are pronounced exactly the same as others and some letters are pronounced different ways at different times. Then of course there are the words we have borrowed from other languages that come with their own set of guidelines! And after you think you have mastered the correct spelling and look it up you may find it spelled
differently! But don't despair! Study these basic rules and your spelling will improve by a good 90%!
Problem area: Words containing ie or ei? (note: ie is twice as common as ei!)
Solutions:
1) If you haven't memorized "i before e except after c, or when sounded as a as in neighbor and weigh!" do so now.
2) If it sounds like A (neighbor) it's also "i before e", and
3) If it sounds like AY( freight) - "i before e"
Nasty little exceptions:
1)If it sounds like ee(brief) forget the little memory poem and go with ie.2) Words to memorize that go against the rules: counterfeit, forfeit, leisure, seize, foreign, height, neither, weird.
Problem area: These endings seem to be confusing: cede, ceed and sede?
Solutions:
1) Remember that there are only three words that end in ceed. Memorize these three: exceed, proceed, succeed.2) Only one word ends in sede- supersede. Memorize it also!
3) Everything else is spelled with cede!
Problem area: When adding a suffix to a word that ends in e, should I drop the e?
Solutions:
1) If the suffix starts with a consonant( achieve+ment=achievement leave the E in place.2) If the suffix begins with a vowel(type+ist=typist)
Nasty little exceptions:
Watch for words that end in these letters. E,C,G,O,- when these come before the final e, the e stays when you add the suffix.notice+able=noticeable/agree+ing=agreeing/change+able=changeable/hoe+ing=hoeing
Problem area: When to add a k to a word that ends in c when adding a suffix?
Solutions:
1) Add the k when the c "hard" and is pronounce like the letter k.
panic+ing=panicking/picnic+ed=picnicking
Problem area: Words that have a prefix added with the same first letter that the base letter has.
Do you double the letters or drop one?
Solutions:
1) Maintain! - In words such as unnatural, dissatisfy...maintain your base word. No need to drop any letters.
Problem area: More suffix problems-when to double the final consonant of word when adding a suffix?
Solutions:
1) If it is a two syllable word that you pronounce with the emphasis on the second syllable, double it. admit+ance=admittance/occur+ence=occurence.2) If the emphasis is on the first syllable, don't double it.
order+ing=ordering/credit+ed=credited
3) If the word contains only a single syllable, and a vowel comes before the final consonant, double the final consonant.
run+er=runner/hit+ing=hitting
Problem area: When choosing the adverb form of a verb should you use ly or ally?
Solutions:
1) Most base words take the ly addition.
complete+ly=completely
2) Some base words already end in al so just add ly to them also
fundamental+ly=fundamentally
3)A word whose base ends in ic uses the ally form. basic+ally=basically
magic+ally=magically.
Problem area: If a word ends in Y how do I make it plural?
Solutions:
1)If a vowel precedes the Y do not change the y to i.monkey/monkeys
tray/trays
2)Change the y to an i and add es in all others
city/cities
story/stories
Problem area: When do you use s and when do you use es to make a word plural?
Solutions:
1) If a word ends in s or an s-sound(ss,x,ch,sh,z), the plural is formed by adding es to the singular.hostess/hostesses
church/churches
quartz/quartzes
dish/dishes
Problem area: Making a plural out of a compound term. Where does the S go?
Solutions:
1) Put the s with the most important word of the phrase.attorneys general/joint chiefs of staff
2)If the words are of equal importance then add the s to the last word.
run-ons/go-betweens
There! Not so bad. Now print this out and hang a copy by the computer and leave a copy in the bathroom! Go over it and practice it until these things become second nature. Also, study the following list of frequently misspelled words.
access/accommodate/acknowledgment/argument/commitment/consensus/deductible/dependent/embarrass/existence/foreword//harass/inadvertent/indispensable/judgment/liaison/license/misspelled/occasion/occurrence/perseverance/prerogative/privilege/proceed/separate/supersede/withhold
