Spelling
Spell checkers will catch some kinds of errors, but not all. For example, they tend to miss homonyms -- words which are pronounced the same way but spelled differently, such as site/ sight, there/ their/ they're, and its/ it's. Most spell-checkers, for example, would report no error in the following sentence, despite the fact that there are three serious spelling mistakes:
- Their looking for a new sight where the gopher can build it's home.
The joint influence of British and American spelling on Canadian usage has provided an additional challenge to Canadian students: Canadians tend to follow standard British spelling for certain words (axe, cheque), to follow American spelling for others (connection, tire), and to allow either for yet more (programme/ program, labour/ labor, neighbour/ neighbor). The important thing to remember is to be consistent in usage and to follow a regular pattern when you spell. Don't mix neighbour with labor, for example. Choose one or the other pattern, and follow it closely. The best way to avoid problems with mixed British and American spelling is to keep a dictionary handy that shows Canadian usage.
Although spelling correctly is largely a matter of practice and the common-sense use of reference materials, there are four standard spelling rules. Although each has exceptions, if you study these rules carefully, you will be able to avoid most common errors, even without a spell-checker.
Written by Dorothy Turner
Spelling words with "ei" and "ie"
When the sound is a long "e" (as in feed), write "i" before "e", except after "c". After "c" reverse the spelling ("ei"):
- After other letters
- believe, yield, reprieve
- After c
- ceiling, perceive, conceit
The problem with this rule is that it works only when "ei"/"ie" sounds like the "ee" in feet. If it has any other sound, you should write "ei" even after letters other than "c":
- foreign, vein, freight
Written by Dorothy Turner
Spelling final "y" before a suffix
When a word ends in "y" preceded by a consonant, you should usually change the "y" to "i" before adding the suffix:
- curly becomes curlier
- party becomes parties
- thirty becomes thirties, thirtieth
However, if the suffix already begins with "i", keep the "y" (except before the suffix "-ize"):
- thirty becomes thirtyish
- fry becomes frying
- agony becomes agonize
- memory becomes memorize
When the ending "y" is preceded by a vowel ("a" "e" "i" "o" or "u"), "y" does not change to "i":
- journey becomes journeying
- trolley becomes trolleys
Written by Dorothy Turner
Final Silent "e"
If a word ends in a consonant followed by a silent "e", drop the "e" before endings beginning with a vowel, but keep the "e" before endings beginning with a consonant:
- engage becomes engaging but engagement
- care becomes caring but careful
- fate becomes fatal but fateful
- scarce becomes scarcity but scarcely
Written by Dorothy Turner
Spelling Words with Double Consonants
Double the final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel if both of the following are true: the consonant ends a stressed syllable or a one-syllable word, and the consonant is preceded by a single vowel:
- drag becomes dragged
- wet becomes wetter
- occur becomes occurred, occurring
- refer becomes referral, referring
Written by Dorothy Turner