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English Spelling Rules

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Every English-speaking person knows the hackneyed “i before e” jingle. However, if asked to cite other spelling rules, the preponderance of responders with at least ten years of the language under their belts will shrug and scratch their heads. Perhaps they may come up with one or two more, but by the time a person has successfully learned the language, experience gained from reading and writing becomes the compass. Despite the development of natural instinct, there is no harm in reviewing spellcheck ability now and then. The following is a review of the double consonant rule.

When adding an ending that begins with a vowel to a one-syllable word that ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel, it is proper to add another one of the consonants before tagging on the suffix. This is called consonant doubling and is seen in words like shipping or knitting. Now, if the ending begins with a consonant, no doubling should occur. In shipment, for example, the word and the ending remain unchanged.

It is possible that traveling is in the list of top-ten most frequent misspellings caught by a free spell checker. It is an honest mistake to assume the form travelling would be correct. After all, the doubling rule appears to apply at first glance. However, attention to the details of the rule proves that the spell check was not fooled. Although the word travel ends with a consonant immediately preceded by a vowel, it is a two-syllable word and receives different treatment.

Dealing with polysyllabic words requires attention to the accent. If the accent falls on the last syllable when a word is properly pronounced, as in prefer, then consonant doubling is required, as in preferring. If, however, the accent falls on the first syllable, as in travel, the suffix is simply appended, as in traveling.

This is just a review of one of the many subtle rules of English spelling. Others that should be reviewed on a regular basis can be found with little difficulty on the internet. The word forms in the English language are often derived from a variety of sources, so exceptions to the rules abound. Running through one rule and its exceptions every two weeks or so will keep skills sharp and will avoid careless, costly mistakes that a writer, proofreader, or spellcheck program may overlook.

A wise author uses the results of a free spell checker search to refresh their skills. The tendency is to choose a suggested alternative without asking why the word was spelled incorrectly in the first place. If traveling pops up in a word and grammar result, the first thing that should come to mind is the accent location rule. After consistent practice, using the proper form of the word will be second nature, not due to word recognition, but due to comprehension of the theory behind the rule. At that point, spelling mastery is truly realized.

Written by admin

March 3rd, 2011 at 12:49 pm