Spelling Rules to Know in Middle School English
SPELLING RULES
FIRST RULE
Write ie when the sound in long e, except after c.
examples:
piece, niece, belief, receive
exceptions:
either, seize, weird
SECOND RULE
Write ei when the
sound in long a
examples:
neighbor, weigh, veil
Here is the rhyme:
I before E except after C or
when sounding like A
as in neighbor and weigh.
THIRD RULE
Only one English word ends in
–sede:
supersede
Only three words end in –ceed:
exceed, proceed, and succeed
All other words of similar sound end in
–cede;
recede, concede, precede
FOURTH RULE
Drop the final e before a suffix beginning with a vowel.
examples: dine + ing = dining, use + able =
usable
exceptions: knowledge + able =
knowledgeable, replace + able = replaceable
FIFTH RULE
Keep the final e before a suffix beginning with a consonant.
Examples: use + ful = useful, care + less =
careless
SIXTH RULE
With words ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i
before any suffix not beginning with an i.
examples:
lively + ness = liveliness, bury + al = burial
SEVENTH RULE
Double the final consonant before a suffix that begins with a vowel if both of the
following conditions exist:
A.
The word has only one syllable or is accented on the last
syllable.
B.
The word ends in a single consonant preceded by a single
vowel.
Examples:
win+ ing = winning; omit + ed = omitted, begin + er =
beginner
differ + ence = difference (accent on the 1st syllable)
drooped
+ ed drooped (single consonant ending preceded by a double
vowel)
Pluralization Rules
FIRST RULE
Words ending in s,x,z,sh and ch add es
Examples:
waltzes, glasses, churches
SECOND RULE
Words ending in y preceded by a vowel, add an s
Examples:
turkeys, essays