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