1. Spelling Rules
For a soft “c” or “g” sound, make sure you have an i, e, or y afterward
Courageous; malice; gyroscope
For a hard “c” or “g,” use a, o, u, or a consonant
Coverage; Galadriel; hickory; gunk
EXCEPTIONS: Can you think of any?
Get; gill;

2. Rules for Prefixes
When you add a prefix, don’t change the prefix or the base word.
Dis (not) + appear = Disappear
Exceptions: When you use prefixes like ad- (toward), com- (with), or in- (not), you have to change the prefix to match the base word
In (not) + legal = inlegal? No…
illegal

3. Spelling Rule #2
Using Hyphens

4. Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective is two words used together to describe a noun.
Compound adjectives before a noun must have a hyphen:
Richard devoured five raspberry-filled truffles.
Compound adjectives after a noun do not take a hyphen:
Her fingernails were painted blood red.

5. Adverb-Adjective Combinations
Sometimes an adverb-adjective combination can describe a noun. Do NOT use a hyphen with these.
Felix’s neatly organized desk only confused Oscar.
Hint: “-ly” words are almost always adverbs

6. Other Uses For Hyphens In whole numbers (21 – 99) and fractions
Thirty-two; five-eighths; seven thirty-seconds
In ages
11- to 14-year-old swimmers
With some prefixes and suffixes
Self-service; mid-December; germ-free
In some last names
Fay-Zenk
To divide a word into syllables at the end of a line

7. References
Nitty-Gritty Grammar: A Not-So-Serious Guide to Clear Communication by Edith H. Fine and Judith P. Josephson
Write Source 2000