1. SPELLING RULES

2. Spelling Rule #1
If the word ends in a y, change the y to i before adding the ending es, ed, or ness
try
try
tri
tries

3. Know these OTHER words that follow this pattern
family
families
happy
happiness
relies
rely

4. Spelling Rule #2
i before e (belief, friend)
except after c (receive, deceit)
or when sounded as A
as in neighbor and weigh

5. COMMON EXCEPTIONS to i before e neither leisure seizure
And WEIRD is a little weird!

6. Begin Beginning Hop Hopping Star Starring
Spelling Rule # 3
DOUBLE a consonant at the end of a word before adding an ending IF the final syllable has a SHORT VOWEL (vowel does NOT say its name.)
Begin Beginning
Hop Hopping
Star Starring

7. Hope Hoping Stare Staring Make Making
Spelling Rule #3 cont.
Do NOT double the final consonant when adding an ending (ing/ed) if the word has a LONG vowel sound (vowel says its name) in the last syllable.
Drop the final e and add the ending.
Hope Hoping
Stare Staring
Make Making

8. written Write writing LONG vowel so don’t double consonant (t) But
THAT is why
Write writing
LONG vowel so don’t double consonant (t)
But
written
SHORT vowel—so t IS doubled.

9. These rules help, but no rule works 100% of the time.
Use the rules to make an educated guess when you cannot look something up.