spelling

MAKING WORDS PLURAL most of the time, we can just add an “s.” ex:  keys, footballs, pancakes. words that end in “ch,” “x,” or “s,” you have to add “es.” ex:  boxes, witches, fusses, buses.

MAKING WORDS PLURAL words that end in a consonant and a “y,” change the “y” to an “i” and add “es.” ex:   ruby —> rubies marry —> marries words that end in “ f “ or “ fe,” change the “ f “ sound to a “v” sound, add “es.” ex:    life —> lives     leaf —> leaves hoof —> hooves elf —> elves *Exceptions: dwarfs, roofs

MAKING WORDS PLURAL irregular plural forms (odd cases) ex:   woman —> women goose —> geese mouse —> mice person —> people deer —> deer

Words that end with “e” Drop the “e” if the suffix (ending) starts with a vowel Blame + ing = Blaming Don’t drop the “e” if the suffix starts with a consonant Same + ness + Sameness

Words ending in a consonant and ‘y’ Change the “y” to an ‘i’ before adding ending Pretty + ness + prettiness . . . Unless the ending begins with an ‘I” Cry + ing + crying

Words ending with a vowel and “y” Keep the “Y” Destroy + ing = destroying

One syllable words If they end with a single consonant and a single vowel, double final consonant Slam + ed = slammed

“i” before “e” except after “c” Niece Piece But . . . Receipt, receive, deceive Exception: when the word sounds like “way” Sleigh Neigh

Rules to improve spelling Use a dictionary or spell-checker Check it over yourself. You will catch more mistakes than you think Break larger words into smaller: Beau ti ful Look for smaller words in larger ones To mor row