Rule 1 - Q
Q always needs a U.
U is not a vowel here (quit)
Rule 2 - C
C usually says /k/ (cat, cot, cut, clip, music).
C says /s/ before E, I, or Y (cent, city, cycle).
Rule 3 - G
G usually says /g/ (gap, got, guts, grip, bag), but G MAY say /j/ before E, I, or Y (germ, giant, gym).
Rule 4- A, E, O, U
A, E, O, U usualy say /A, E, O, U/ at the end of a syllable (la-zy, me, go, u-nit).
Rule 5-I and Y
I and Y usually say /i/ at the end of a syllable
(cli-nic, cy-nic), but may say /I/ li-on, cry).
Rule 6- Engish word endings
English words do not end in I, U, V, or J.
At the end of the English words Y stands in for I
Rule 7-Silent Final Es
English has at least five reasons for a silent final E.
1 Dime - the vowel sound changes because of the E
2 Love/True-English words do not end with V or U
3 Dance/Large - C says /s/ because of the E
- G says /j/ because of the E
4 Ap-ple - Every syllable
Rule 8 O-R
O-R usually says /er/ when W comes before O-R (worship).
Rule 9-IE or EI?
Use I before E (chief) except after C (receive), if we say /A/ (vein), and in some exceptions: Either weird foreign sovereign forfeited leisure. Neither heifer seized counterfeit protein or caffeine.
Rule 10 - SH
SH spells /sh/ at the beginning of a word (she) at the end of a syllable (fish), but not at the beginning of any syllable after the first one (na-tion) except for teh endiing -ship (friend-ship).
Rule 11 - TI, CI, SI
TI, CI, SI. Ltin spelings of /sh/ come at the begining of any syllable after the first one (nation, facial, tension).
Rule 12 - Abbreviations
Use a few letters to represent a larger word
(Mr. - Mister)
Rule 13 - Contractions
Replace a letter (or letters) with an apostrophe to contract or shorten a phrase (I am = I'm)
Rule 14 - 1-1-1 Rule
With a one syllable word ending in one vowel then one consonant, double the last consonant before adding a vowel suffix (get = getting)
Rule 15 - 2-1-1 Rule
With a two syllable word ending in one vowel then one consonant, double the last consonant before adding a vowel suffix if the accent is on the last syllable (for-get = for-get-ting)
Rule 16 - Silent Final E or E's Dropping Rule
Commonly commonly lose the need for the E when adding a vowel suffix (hope/hoping/hopeless). Words like noticeable and changeable ignore the rule.
Rule 17 - Double F, L, and S
We often double F,L.S after a single vowel at the end of a base word (off, all, confess)
Rule 18 - A-Y
Usually says /A/ at the end of a base word (may, pay). When a word ends in a it says /ah/ (ma, panda)
Rule 19 - I and O
May say /I/ and /O/ before two consonants (bind, gold)
Rule 20 - X and S
X NEVER comes directly before S. (boxes, excel) There is a /s/ sound in X
Rule 21 - ALL and FULL
All and Full are written with one L when added to another syllable (almost, fulfill).
Rule 22 - Plurals
Add an -s, UNLESS the word ending hisses (ch, s, sh, x, z), changes (wife, wives; fly/flies), or just stops with O (tomato, tomatoes). In these cases add -es.
Rule 23 - DGE
Used only after a single vowel which says
/a-e-i-o-u/ (badge, edge, bridge, lodge, fudge)
Rule 24 - Y's Exchanging Rule
A single vowel Y (not oy,ey,ay) changes to I when adding any ending (try/tried), unless the ending starts with i (trying, babyish, copyist).
Rule 25 - CK
Used only after a single vowel which says
/a-e-i-o-u/ (back, peck, pick, pocket, truck)
Rule 26 - Capitalization
Capitalize words which are the individual names (Bob) or titles of persons, places, or things.
Rule 27 - Z, never S
Spells /z/ at the beginning of a base word.
(zoo, zero)
Rule 28 - E-D Past Tense Ending
Forms another syllable if the base word ends with /d/ or /t/ (loaded, acted) If not, E-D sounds like /d/ or /t/ (killed, picked).
Rule 29 - Double Consonants
In multisyllable words both should be sounded for spelling but not in normal speech (ap-ple)