Although the American English spelling system has evolved from many sources, there are specific patterns worth learning. These spelling patterns, or spelling rules, have exceptions; however, they are minimal. It is always efficient to memorize the rule, instead of all the exceptions. In baseball, hitters are taught to “look for the fastball and stick to the curve.” The same is true in the English-American spelling system. The following are the key spelling rules that work most of the time in the American English spelling system.
1. The i before the rule e
Usually i is written before e (believe), but e is written before i after ac (receive) and when the letters are pronounced as a long /a/ (neighbor) sound.
2. The final rule and
Keep the y when adding an ending if the word ends in a vowel, then ay (delay-delay), or if the ending starts with an i (copy-copy). Change the y to i by adding an ending if the word ends in a consonant, then ay (prettier).
3. The silent electronic ruler
Drop the e (have-have) at the end of a syllable if the ending begins with a vowel. Keep the e (close-closely) when the ending begins with a consonant, has a soft /c/ or /g/ sound, then an “ous” or “able” (peaceful, magnificent), or if it ends in “ee” , “oe” or “ye” (freedom, shoe, look).
4. The double consonant rule
Doubling the consonant, when adding an ending (permit), if these three conditions are met: 1. the last syllable has an accent (per/mit) 2. the last syllable ends in a vowel, then a consonant (permit ). 3. the ending you add begins with a vowel (ed).
5. The “an” or “en” ending rule
End a word with “ance”, “ancy” or “ant” (vacancy, arrogance) if the preceding stem has a strong /c/ or /g/ sound or if the stem ends with “ear” or “ure” ( authorization , sure). End a word with “ence”, “ency”, or “ent” if the preceding stem has a soft /c/ or /g/ sound (magnificent, emergence), after “id” (residence), or if the stem ends with “era” (reverence).
6. The “capable” or “ible” rule
End a word with “capable” if the preceding stem has a strong /c/ or /g/ sound (contemptible, navigable), after a full root word (teachable), or after a silent e (pleasant). End a word with “ible” if the stem has a soft /c/ or /g/ sound (reducible, legible), after an “ss” (allowable), or after an incomplete stem (audible).
7. The final “ion” rule
Spell “sion” (illusion) for the final sound of zyun or the final sound of shun (expulsion, pity) if it is after one or one s. It spells “cian” (musician) for one person and “tion” (condition) in most other cases.
8. The rule of plurals
Spell plural nouns with an s (dog-dogs), even those that end in y (day-days) or those that end in a vowel, then an o (stereo-stereo). Spell “es” after the /s/, /x/, /z/, /ch/, or /sh/ sounds (box-boxes) or after a consonant, then an o (potato-potatoes). Change the y to i and add “es” when the word ends in a consonant, then ay (ferry-ferries). Change the ending “fe” or “lf” to “ves” (knives-knives, shelves).