SAT Spelling Tips 10-11 The Spelling Rules

What We Will Be Covering 8/4 Spelling rules, esp. the most common errors. Almost right words (or commonly confused words).

Spelling Rules There is no getting around it, there are just some rules that you need to know:

Spelling Rules 10/11 “I” before “E” except after “C” or when said as “Ä” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.” I believe I will receive a blanket from my neighbor.

Spelling Rules 10/12 2. There are many exceptions to the “I” before “E” rule and here they are: weird, height, seize, leisure, either, neither, and protein.

Spelling Rules – 10/15 3. The only English word ending in –sede is supersede. The only English words ending in –ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed. All other words that end in this sound will be spelled with –cede.

Spelling Rules – 10/16 When adding the suffix –ness or –ly to a word, do not change the spelling of the word itself sudden + ness = suddenness truthful + ly = truthfully.

Spelling Rules – 10/17 5. When adding a prefix to a word, do not change the spelling of the word itself: il + logical = illogical mis + spell = misspell un + natural = unnatural.

Spelling Rules – 10/18 Drop the final silent “e” before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel: nice + est = nicest love + ing = loving

Spelling Rules – 10/19 You do not drop the silent “e” in words ending in “ce” and “ge” before a suffix beginning with “a” or “o”: notice + able = noticeable courage + ous = courageous

Spelling Rules – 10/22 You need to keep the final silent “e” adding a suffix that begins with a consonant: care + less = careless false + hood = falsehood

Spelling Rules – 10/23 When words end in “y” that is preceded by a consonant, change the “y” to “i” when adding a suffix unless the suffix begins with an “i”: beauty + ful = beautiful carry + ing = carrying envy + able = enviable

Spelling Rules – 10/24 10. Please remember if the word ends in “y” preceding a vowel does not change when you add a suffix: pay + ment = payment buy + er = buyer

Spelling Rules – 10/25 11. Always remember to double the final consonant before adding the suffixes -ing, -ed, -er, or –est to a one syllable word that ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel: hit + er = hitter quiz + es = quizzes

Spelling Rules – 10/26 12. The exception to the double consonant rule is when words end with “w” or “x”: mow + ed = mowed wax + ing = waxing

Spelling Rules – 10/29 13. Remember when forming plural nouns ending in “o” that precedes a vowel, just add “-s”: video + s = videos and ratio + s = ratios. For musical terms just add an “-s” if the word ends in “o”: piano = pianos, alto = altos, and trio = trios

Spelling Rules – 10/30 14. Remember when forming plural nouns ending in “o” that precedes a consonant, you need to add an “-es”: hero = heroes tomato = tomatoes potato = potatoes The only exception is silo = silos

Spelling Rules – 10/31 15. Some words that end in “o” can be spelled with either “-es” or “s”: banjos/banjoes flamingos/flamingoes

Spelling Rules – 11/1 16. Some nouns change their spelling completely to form the plural version: ox = oxen mouse = mice octopus = octopi

Spelling Rules – 11/2 17. Some nouns have the same spelling for both the singular form and plural form: fish = fish tuna = tuna salmon = salmon Chinese = Chinese moose = moose

Spelling Rules – 11/5 18. This is also true for irregular verbs. They have the same spelling for both the present and past tense: Hit Burst Hurt Put Let

Almost Right Words You need to know the differences between these commonly confused words:

Almost Right Words 11/5 Affect & Effect Affect = influence (verb). What affect does that medicine have? Effect = result (noun) or to bring about (verb). You need to write a cause and effect essay.

Almost Right Words – 11/6 Continuous & Continual Continuous = something that never stops (adj.). His talking was continuous. Continual = something that starts and stops over and over (adj.). We will begin our continual coverage of the election in ½ hr.

Almost Right Words – 11/7 Except & Accept Except = to exclude or leave out (verb). I will allow everyone to turn in late work, except Kalani. Accept = to receive (verb). I will gladly accept this award.

Almost Right Words - 11/8 Farther & Further Farther = means distance. How much farther do we have to go? Further = talks about time and intensity. Without further hesitation, Harry leapt onto the dragon’s scaly back.

Almost Right Words – 11/9 Fewer & Less Fewer = describes items that you can count (i.e. books, flowers, and boats). You need to make fewer mistakes. Less = describes items that you measure (i.e. ability, intensity, and headaches). I want less talking, please.

Almost Right Words – 11/14 Good & Well Good = describes nouns and pronouns (adj.). That’s a good job. Well = describes how you are doing or how you did on something (adv.). I did well on my test. Well = also describes how you are physically feeling. I feel well today.

Almost Right Words – 11/15 Lie & Lay Lie = means to recline. I like to lie down and take a nap. Lay = means to place something down. Please lay the book on the table. Lay = can also be past tense for lie. I had to lay down for awhile.

Almost Right Words – 11/16 May & Can May = asking for permission. May I go to the bathroom? Can = you have the physical ability to do something. I can give my impromptu speech now.

Almost Right Words – 11/19 Bad & Badly Bad = adjective and modifies either a noun or pronoun. The bad kitty tore up the sofa. Badly = adverb and will explain how something is doing. I did badly on my test today.

Almost Right Words – 11/20 Earth & earth Earth = capitalized, it is referring to the planet. The planet Earth is third from the sun. When “earth” is in lower case, it is referring to the ground. The earth was parched from a lack of rain water.

Sounds Alike – 11/21 Stationary & Stationery Stationary = adjective and means to be in a fixed position. Is that a stationary bike? Stationery = noun and is a piece of writing paper. That is beautiful stationery.

Sounds Alike – 11/26 Formally & Formerly Formally = dignity or following strict rules and procedures. As beneficiaries of Ke Ali’i Pauahi’s legacy, you must always carry yourself formally when representing the school. Formerly = something that occurred at an earlier date; previously. Formerly, people thought the sun revolved around the Earth.

Sounds Alike – 11/27 Council & Counsel Council = group called together to accomplish a job. The council advised the virtuoso to go to Julliard. Counsel = noun means advice. He needs legal counsel in the matter. As a verb, counsel means to give advice. He was counseled not to make glib remarks to the teacher.

Sounds Alike – 11/28 Capital & Capitol Capital = city or the location of government. The capital of Hawai’i is on O’ahu. Capitol = building or statehouse. The capitol has a golden dome on the top.

Sounds Alike – 11/29 Already & All ready Already = previously and is a prep. We have already digressed from the topic. All ready = adjective and means all prepared or in readiness. The muse is all ready to go on stage.

Almost Right (but not quite…) – 11/30 No such thing as irregardless; it’s regardless. Never say, “The reason is because…”; instead say, “The reason is that…” Could of/Should of/Would of is wrong; replace “of” with “have.”

Sounds Alike – 12/3 Eminent & Imminent Eminent = distinguished or lofty Imminent = will happen in any minute

Sounds Alike – 12/4 Reign & Rein Rein = something worn by an animal (i.e. horse) Reign = this means to rule

Sounds Alike – 12/5 All right & Alright All right = as an adj. it means safe & sound as an adv. it means yes & very well Alright = is actually incorrect and shouldn’t be used in formal writing

Sounds Alike – 12/6 All right & Alright All right = as an adj. it means safe & sound as an adv. it means yes & very well Alright = is actually incorrect and shouldn’t be used in formal writing

Sounds Alike – 12/7 Whole & Hole Whole = is the total of something Hole = something you did in the ground.

Next Up… Practice