SPELLING

GRAMMAR

DICTIONARY

1.     Spelling

2.     Syllabication (shown by dots)

3.     Pronunciation (shown in parentheses)

4.     Parts of speech

5.     Principal parts of irregular verbs

6.     Plural forms of irregular verbs

7.     Meanings

8.     Etymology (origin and history)

9.     Usage (standard, informal, nonstandard, slang,        

        vulgar, obsolete, archaic): use only standard English

        vocabulary.

10.   Synonyms (words with similar meanings)

SPELLING

1.     "I" before "e" except after "c" or when pronounced

        "ay" as in "neighbor."

2.     When adding suffixes to words that end in "e",

        a.    Drop the "e" if the suffix starts with a vowel:

                surprise + ing = surprising.

        b.    Do not drop the "e" if the suffix starts with a    

                consonant: care + ful = careful.

3.     When adding suffixes to words that end in "y",

        a.    Change the "y" to "I" when it follows a        

               consonant: worry + ed = worried.

        b.    Leave the "y" when it follows a vowel:

               obey + ed = obeyed.

        c.    Leave the "y" before all "ing" suffixes: 

               cry + ing = crying, study + ing = studying

4.     Double consonants:

        a.     One syllable words:

                (1) With one vowel, double the consonant:

                       slap + ed = slapped.

                (2) With two vowels, do not double the

                       consonant: pair + ed = paired.

                (3) With one vowel and another consonant,

                       do not double the final consonant:

                       park + ed = parked.

        b.     More than one syllable words:

                (1) With one vowel before the consonant

                        and the stress on the last syllable,

                        double the consonant:

                        begin + ing = beginning.

                (2) Don’t double the consonant if:

                       --It is preceded by a vowel and another         

                          consonant: relent + less = relentless.

                       --The stress is not on the last syllable:

                           beckon + ed = beckoned.

        a.     Add "s": boy = boys.

        b.     Change "f/fe" to "ve" and add "s": yourself =    

                 yourselves.

        c.     Words that end in "s", "sh", "ch", or "x",

                 add "es": kiss = kisses.

        d.     Words ending in a vowel and "o", add "s": zoo =

                 zoos.

        e.     Words ending in a consonant and "o", add "es":

                 hero = heroes.

        f.      In compound nouns, only add the "s" to     

                 the second word: bucket seats.

HINTS:

1.     Make spelling a priority.

2.     Use the dictionary (guess).

3.     Pronounce words carefully and distinctly.

4      Record and analyze your own spelling error patterns.

5.     Use mnemonics (memory games): There’s a "dent"

        in "independent."

6.     Study spelling lists.