Some spelling rules are worth learning; others are too complicated or have too many exceptions. Instead of learning all the rules, focus on learning rules which address your particular spelling problems. Following is some helpful information on the rules for building new words:
- Words for discussing spelling
- General rules for seven common spelling situations
- Three types of irregular spelling
- Rules for Australian and American spelling
Words for discussing spelling
- vowel: a, e, i, o and u are vowels
- consonant: the other 21 letters of the alphabet
- prefix: an element added to the front of a word (e.g. un/in=not, pre=before, anti=against)
- suffix: an element added to the end of a word (e.g. –ing, –able, –ed, –ly, –ful, –ment, –tion)
- syllable: a word or section of a word with a single sound (e.g. read, fa_mous, dif_fi_cult)
- stress: the emphasis given to a syllable (e.g. famous, focus, occur, infer – stressed syllables are underlined)
General rules for seven common spelling situations
In each case, note the exceptions identified for the general rules. Such exceptions are irregular spellings which do not conform to the general rules, and which must be memorised.
Situation: ie or ei?
| General rules | Examples |
| 1. Write i before e, except after c. |
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| 2. Write ie after c for words with a shen sound. | ancient, efficient, sufficient, conscience |
| 3. Write ei when the vowels sound like an a as in weigh. | neighbour, vein, reign, rein, deign |
Exceptions: counterfeit, either, neither, height, leisure, forfeit, foreign, science, species, seize, weird
Situation: Pluralise by adding -s or -es
| General rules | Examples |
| 1. Add -es if a word ends in –ch, –sh, –ss, –x or –z. |
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| 2. Add -es for most words ending in –o. |
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Exceptions: altos, duos, pianos, radios, solos, sopranos, studios, videos, typos
Situation: Words ending in –y: when to change -y to i
| General rules | Examples |
| 1. If the –y is preceded by a vowel, retain the y when adding s or a suffix. |
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| 2. Retain the y when adding -ing. |
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| 3. If the –y is preceded by a consonant, change the y to i before adding any other suffix. |
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Exceptions: dryness, shyness
Situation: Words ending in –e: when to drop the -e
| General rules | Examples |
| 1. Drop the –e when the suffix starts with a vowel. | use > usable |
| 2. Drop the –e when the word ends in -dge. | judge > judgment |
| 3. Drop the –e when adding -ing. |
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Exceptions: Do not drop the –e if the word ends in -ce or -ge (e.g. trace > traceable; manage > manageable)
Situation: Verbs ending in –t: when to double the –t if adding -ing, -ed and some suffixes
| General rules | Examples |
| 1. Double the t for verbs of one syllable with a single vowel, or a short vowel sound. |
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| 2. Double the t for verbs of more than one syllable when the stress is on the last syllable. |
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Exceptions: Do not double the t for verbs of one syllable with a double vowel or a long vowel sound. e.g.:
- treat > treating, treated
- greet > greeting, greeted
Situation: Verbs ending in –r: when to double the –r if adding -ing, -ed and some suffixes
| General rules | Examples | Exceptions |
| 1. Double the r for verbs of one syllable when the final r is preceded by a single vowel. |
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Do not double the r for verbs of one syllable when the final r is preceded by two vowels (e.g. fear > fearing, feared) |
| 2. Double the r for words of more than one syllable when the stress does not fall on the first syllable. |
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Do not double the r for words of more than one syllable, when the stress falls on the first syllable (e.g. prosper > prospering, prospered) |
Situation: Verbs ending in l: when to double the –l if adding -ing, -ed and some suffixes
| General rule | Examples | Exceptions |
| Double the l when it is preceded by a single vowel. |
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Do not double the l when it is preceded by two vowels (e.g. conceal > concealing, concealed) |
Three types of irregular spelling
There are no reliable rules covering the following situations and words, so they simply have to be memorised.
Dropping letters
Many words drop a letter when adding a suffix, but it is not always the final letter.
- argue > argument
- proceed > procedure
- humour > humorous
- disaster > disastrous
- repeat > repetition
- administer > administration
Word endings such as -able/-ible, -ant/-ance; -ent/-ence
- admirable, preventable, suitable, dependable
- negligible, incredible, invisible, sensible
- attendance, ignorance, nuisance, importance
- sentence, difference, independence, intelligence
Silent letters
Some words include letters which are not pronounced when the word is spoken.
Rules for Australian and American spelling
There are often considerable differences between Australian and American spelling. You should use Australian spelling in preference to American spelling, but if American spelling is considered acceptable, then make sure you use it consistently in your academic writing.
Other common words
- aeroplane—not airplane
- traveller—not traveler
- defence—not defense
