This document outlines 11 basic spelling rules in English: 1. The "i before e except after c" rule and its exceptions. 2. Rules for words ending in "y" and adding suffixes. 3. Doubling consonants when adding suffixes to one-syllable words. 4. Doubling consonants in words of more than one syllable ending in vowel-consonant. 5. Dropping or keeping silent "e" when adding suffixes. 6. Keeping silent "e" before certain suffixes in words ending in "ce" or "ge". 7. Adding "k" before suffixes beginning with "e", "i", or "y" in words ending in

1. 11 BASIC SPELLING RULES
1. I before E except after C when sound is a long e.
receive, deceive, ceiling
achieve, relieve, siege
exceptions: either, neither, financier, leisure, seize, weird
2. Alley-ally rule
For words ending in a vowel + y: add s: attorneys, boys
For words ending in a consonant + y: change to ies: armies, copies
exception: proper names like Kennedys, Emorys
3. Drop-dropped-dropping rule
If a one-syllable word ends in a single consonant after a vowel, and the
suffix begins with a vowel, double the consonant:
drop + ed = dropped
brag + ing = bragging
big + er = bigger
4. Referred-reference rule
Words of more than one syllable will double the consonant if they end in a
vowel-consonant with the accent on the last syllable:
refer’ - referred’
compel’ - compelled’
occur' - occurrence
refer - ref’erence
confer' - con’ference

2. 11 BASIC SPELLING RULES PAGE 2
5. Amusing - amusement rule
Words ending in a silent e will drop the e when a suffix beginning with a vowel
is added (amuse + ing + amusing). They keep the e when a suffix beginning
with a consonant is added (amuse + ment = amusement)
argue - arguing (not exception, though: argue - argument)
shine - shining
love - lovable
entire - entirely
hope - hopeless
6. Outrageous rule
Words ending in a silent e preceded by ce or ge keep the e before a suffix
beginning with a or o:
changeable advantageous
noticeable peaceable
7. Frolic - frolicking rule
Words ending in c add k before a suffix beginning with e, i or y:
mimicked panicking
trafficked panicky
picnicking
8. Illiterate soulless roommate rule
When a prefix ends in the same letter that begins the main stem, keep both
letters. When the main stem ends with the same letter that begins a suffix or
combined word, keep both:
dis satisfied accidental ly bar room
il logical drunken ness bath house
ir rational stubborn ness book keeping
mis spelled total ly can not
exception: wherever

3. 11 BASIC SPELLING RULES PAGE 3
9. Maintain - maintenance rule
Many words show a major change in spelling when the part of speech
changes, as from the verb maintain to the noun maintenance. Other
examples:
concede (v.) concession (n.)
curious (adj.) curiosity (n.)
explain (v.) explanation (n.)
proceed (v.) procedure (n.)
10. The Sede - Geed - Cede rule
Supersede is the only word in English spelled with sede. Three words only
are spelled with ceed:
exceed
succeed
proceed
All others are cede:
accede cede
concede intercede
precede recede
secede
11. Echo - solo rule
Some words ending in o form plurals by adding es; others, especially
musical terms, add only s; a few can be spelled either way:
hero - heroes alto - altos buffalo(e)s
Negro - Negroes soprano - sopranos gnetto(e)s
potato - potatoes Eskimo - Eskimos volcano(e)s
veto - vetoes ratio - ratios