IGCSE English Language
Technical Skills: Spelling
Copyright 2012 Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC
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Copyright 2012 Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC
www.eddistutorial.com
Why bother to spell properly?
I cnduo't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty uesdtannrd waht I
was rdnaieg. Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan
mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it
dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are,
the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer
be in the rhgit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and
you can sitll raed it whoutit a pboerlm. Tihs is bucseae
the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey ltteer by istlef, but
the wrod as a wlohe. Aaznmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas
tghhuot slelinpg was ipmorantt! See if yuor fdreins can
raed tihs too.
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Spelling matters because
Correct spelling is easier to read and understand.
It creates a positive image about the writer intelligent,
knowledgeable, has attention to detail and cares about
his or her written word.
The writing is more credible and the subject matter is
likely to be taken more seriously.
Spelling correctly sets a good example for others and
encourages them to maintain high standards for
themselves.
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Spelling Rules for English (1)
achieve
ceiling
believe
conceit
chief
friend grieve hygiene
But
deceive perceive receipt
So the rule: i before e except after c
beige freight weight neighbour vein
And, e before i in words rhyming with hey
Exceptions to the rule include:
ancient caffeine either neither foreign height
leisure weird seize
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Spelling Rules for English (2)
ride + ing = riding
surprise + ing = surprising
hope + ing = hoping
like + ness = likeness
entire + ly = entirely
true + ly = truly
argue + ment = argument
But
And
So the rule: drop the final e when adding an ending that begins
with a vowel; keep the final e if the ending begins with a
consonant; drop the final e if the word is preceded by a vowel.
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Spelling Rules for English (3)
supply + es = supplies
baby + es = babies
try + es = tries
try + ing = trying
study + ing = studying
obey + ed = obeyed
But
And
So the rule: change y to i when adding an ending; keep
the y if the ending is ing and if there is a vowel before
the y.
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Spelling Rules for English (4)
paper + s = papers
flower + s = flowers
box + es = boxes
brush + es = brushes
company + es = companies
Sunday + s = Sundays
But
And
So the rule: to make a word plural add s, or es; if the
word ends in consonant + y, change the y to i and add
es; keep the y on plural proper nouns.
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Spelling Rules for English (5)
admit + ed = admitted
stop + ing = stopping
flap + ed = flapped
begin + ing = beginning
counsel + ing = counseling
despair + ed = despaired
delight + ful = delightful
But
So the rule: double the final consonant before a suffix with a
vowel if a single vowel precedes the consonant or the
consonant ends a one-syllable word or a word with an
accented final syllable.
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Where to go from here
There are many more rules to govern spelling and just as many exceptions to the rules.
So do you have to just memorize the rules? (that would be deadly dull, so find other ways
to improve your spelling)
You can:
Look in spelling books or on the Internet for ways to improve your spelling.
www.spelling.hemscott.net/index.html
Play Scrabble with someone that can spell well (use a Scrabble dictionary, too).
Check over your work for spelling mistakes. If you create documents on the computer,
do not rely on spell check.
Do not settle for spelling mistakes in your work. If you make a mistake, look up the
correct spelling (or ask someone) and write the correct word out. Use the correct word in
a sentence, or challenge yourself to use it in a sentence before the end of the day.
Challenge yourself to spell the commonly misspelled words, either by yourself or with a
friend.
Copyright 2012 Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC
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Spelling resources
INTERNET SUGGESTIONS:
www.davidappleyard.com/english/spelling.htm
www.gcse.com/english/spell.htm
www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic-group/spelling
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/TestsFrame.ht
m
Copyright 2012 Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC
www.eddistutorial.com
Spelling resources
Worksheets created by Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC.
Reading good books to improve spelling and
vocabulary (see book lists for IGCSE English
Literature, for example)
Wordsearches, crossword puzzles, word games like
hangman
