TABE Level D English: How To Improve Your Spelling Skills

Rules

You read that sometimes learning a spelling rule helps. However, don’t try to learn too many rules at one time. Occasionally, a series of rules go together naturally. One rule has to do with adding prefixes and suffixes to words. Prefixes and suffixes add meaning to words. Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word; suffixes are added to the end.

Rule: In most cases, you can add a prefix to a word without changing the spelling of that word. For example, add prefix un- to necessary and you have unnecessary.

Tip:
You should think about how you prefer to learn before you start studying lists of spelling words.
- Do you prefer to move around as you study? Do it! Have your list handy and move around as you review the words. Spell the words out loud as you walk. Just be sure that you practice writing the words at some point.
- Do you learn more easily by listening? Use a tape recorder. Dictate a list of 10 words into the recorder. Then spell each word correctly as you look at the list. You might want to say each word in syllables. Listen to each word, and then write it. Check your work. Listen to the spelling until you can write it correctly.
- Do you learn new things more easily by seeing, reading, and writing? Then do that: Look at the word, read it in syllables, and then write it. Use different color pens for problem words, red for double letter words (accommodate), blue for silent letter words (knife), and so forth.
- Certain people learn best by using their hands and “feeling” the shape of the word. These learners actually create small sand boxes and trace the letters of the word in the sand with their fingers. It works! Just be sure to use paper and pen and write the word as the last step.

Understand that you cannot learn to spell every word you need to know in a short time. Instead, take your time and do a small amount of studying at any one time.

Try the following plan:
- Use your learning style as a tool.
- Keep a small notebook handy to record words that you have spelled incorrectly or that are new to you.
- When you enter a word into the notebook, divide it into syllables. Make sure that you are spelling and pronouncing it correctly. Check with a dictionary or use the spelling/dictionary tool on your computer.
- Look at the word. Say it in syllables.
- Think about whether a common spelling rule applies.
- Close your eyes and picture the word.
- Write the word. Check it. Write it again, if necessary.
- Review a word until you are sure you know how to spell it.

What You Have to Know
To improve your spelling, you need to know about six things:
 

1. Vowels, a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y A. Vowel sounds can be short, as the a in apple, the e in test, the i in pick, the o in top, or the u in up. B. Vowel sounds can be long, as the a in ape, the e in teen, the i in fine, the o in pole, or the u in use.. C. The vowel y provides different sounds depending on the word in which it is used: scary (long e), rhythmic (short i) D. Vowel sounds are sometimes dropped, or not clearly long or short. Listen to the o in conclude or the first e in absence. They are dropped vowel sounds. A dropped vowel sound is called a schwa. Listen to the word a-po-lo-gy. It has two schwas, one in the first syllable and one in the third syllable. Can you see where the schwa would be placed? In the dictionary, the schwa is printed this way: -po-l-gy
2. Consonants, which are the rest of the alphabet A. Single consonants such as d and g in dog B. Combinations such as sh in shut and ch in church C. Sounds that have more than one spelling, such as the j sound in jaw, which becomes dg in edge
3. Combinations of consonants and vowels that sound the same but are spelled differently in different words: partial, crucial.
4. Silent letters as in night
5. Homonyms, or words that are spelled or pronounced the same but have different meanings, such as stationary (meaning place) and stationery (meaning paper)
6. Syllables, or how letters are put together in small units of sound. Any word that contains more than one syllable has an accent on one of those syllables.
 

Example: in´-stru-ment. This word is made up of three syllables. Say it out loud. Can you hear the accented or stressed syllable? Yes, the first syllable is stressed; therefore, it has an accent mark over it.
 

Rule: When you add a suffix that begins with a consonant, the spelling does not change (with few exceptions).

Exceptions

Rule: When you add a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in e, drop the e before you add the suffix.

Exceptions: Words that end in ge or ce must keep the final e in order to retain the soft sound of g or c.

Another exception is the word dye (to color or stain).
Dye + –ing dyeing

Rule: Suffixes change the spelling of words that end in y.

 

Rule: i before e except after c.
believe
receive
Exceptions: e before i in words that have a long a sound (neighbor).
neighbor
weigh
More Exceptions: weird, leisure, neither, seize

Rule: Rules for forming plurals of words.

2. Add es to words ending in o preceded by a consonant.

3. Add only an s to words ending in o, preceded by a consonant, but referring to music.

4. Add es to words ending in s, sh, ch, and x.

5. Change y to i and add es in words that end in y preceded by a consonant.

6. Words ending in- ful form their plurals by adding s to the end of the word.
mouthfuls
spoonfuls
7. A compound word forms its plural by adding s to the main word.

8. Numbers and letters form plurals by adding ‘s.

9. Some words keep the same spelling for singular and plural forms.

10. Some words form their plurals by irregular changes.


Commonly Misspelled Words
Review the words that you have misspelled in the past. Try to learn ten words at a time. Use the techniques outlined in the beginning of this section.



C



F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z