Useful Spelling Rules โ Part II --- 11
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๐ผโseโ and โceโ; โsyโ and โcyโ
When two words, verb and noun, are spelt alike, โseโ and โsyโ are verb endings; โceโ and โcyโ are noun endings. The following are therefore verbs: license, practise, prophesy, advise.
The following are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice
Promise is an exception to this rule. It is a noun.
This rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike, so โsuspenseโ and โhypocrisyโ are nouns.
๐ผThe final โeโ
๐1. When followed by โmentโ
Till recently the final โeโ was dropped from words ending in โdgeโ. Example: judgment
Nowadays, it is not necessary to drop the final โeโ before โmentโ. So you can write โjudgementโ, โacknowledgementโ, โarrangementโ and โadvertisementโ.
(See The Concise Oxford Dictionary)
๐2. The final โeโ must be dropped before โableโ.
Move; movable (NOT moveable)
Like; likable (NOT likeable)
The exceptions are words ending in โgeโ and โceโ. For instance
Change; changeable (NOT changable)
Peace; peaceable (NOT peacable)
๐3. The final โeโ is also dropped before โousโ, โageโ or โishโ.
Virtue; virtuous
Mile; milage (occasionally still: mileage)
Blue; bluish
Courage is an exception to this rule. We write courageous and not couragous.
๐4. The final โeโ is always dropped before โingโ except when it is preceded by a vowel with which it forms one sound.
Love; loving
Like; liking
See; seeing (Here the final โeโ and the preceding vowel forms one sound.)
Dye; Dyeing (Here the final โeโ and the preceding y forms one sound.)
๐ผWords ending in โcโ and โckโ
Words ending in โcโ take โkโ after the โcโ before adding โedโor โingโ.
Examples:
Frolic - frolicked, frolicking
Mimic - mimicked,mimicking
picnic - picnicked, picnicking
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SV RAMANUJ
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๐ผโseโ and โceโ; โsyโ and โcyโ
When two words, verb and noun, are spelt alike, โseโ and โsyโ are verb endings; โceโ and โcyโ are noun endings. The following are therefore verbs: license, practise, prophesy, advise.
The following are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice
Promise is an exception to this rule. It is a noun.
This rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike, so โsuspenseโ and โhypocrisyโ are nouns.
๐ผThe final โeโ
๐1. When followed by โmentโ
Till recently the final โeโ was dropped from words ending in โdgeโ. Example: judgment
Nowadays, it is not necessary to drop the final โeโ before โmentโ. So you can write โjudgementโ, โacknowledgementโ, โarrangementโ and โadvertisementโ.
(See The Concise Oxford Dictionary)
๐2. The final โeโ must be dropped before โableโ.
Move; movable (NOT moveable)
Like; likable (NOT likeable)
The exceptions are words ending in โgeโ and โceโ. For instance
Change; changeable (NOT changable)
Peace; peaceable (NOT peacable)
๐3. The final โeโ is also dropped before โousโ, โageโ or โishโ.
Virtue; virtuous
Mile; milage (occasionally still: mileage)
Blue; bluish
Courage is an exception to this rule. We write courageous and not couragous.
๐4. The final โeโ is always dropped before โingโ except when it is preceded by a vowel with which it forms one sound.
Love; loving
Like; liking
See; seeing (Here the final โeโ and the preceding vowel forms one sound.)
Dye; Dyeing (Here the final โeโ and the preceding y forms one sound.)
๐ผWords ending in โcโ and โckโ
Words ending in โcโ take โkโ after the โcโ before adding โedโor โingโ.
Examples:
Frolic - frolicked, frolicking
Mimic - mimicked,mimicking
picnic - picnicked, picnicking
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SV RAMANUJ
โค1
Spelling : capital letters --- 12
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๐๐ป Capital letters are used at the beginning of the following kinds of words.
๐บ1. the names of days, months and public holidays. The names of seasons do not usually begin with capital letters.
๐นSunday; Monday; Friday
๐นJanuary; March, August
๐นChristmas; Easter;
๐นsummer; autumn; winter; spring
๐บ2. the names of people and places, including stars and planets
๐นShailesh; Alka; Tina
๐นIndia; Tokyo; Paris; Singapore
๐นJupiter; Mars; Neptune
(But the earth, the sun and the moon)
๐บ3. peopleโs titles
๐นMr Shah; Dr Dave; the Chairman; the Managing Director
๐บ4. nouns and adjectives referring to nationalities and regions, languages, religions and ethnic groups
๐นHe is French.
๐นShe is Spanish.
๐นHe is a Sikh.
๐นChinese history
๐บ5. the first word in the title of books, magazines, plays, pictures, magazines etc. Sometimes other nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in the title also begin with capital letters.
๐นThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The adventures of Tom Sawyer
๐นGone with the Wind OR Gone with the wind
๐ผ Spelling :-ly
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding -ly.
๐นLate โ lately
๐นReal โ really
๐นRight โ rightly
๐นDefinite โ definitely
๐นHopeful โ hopefully
๐นComplete โ completely
๐ธ Exceptions
There are some exceptions to this rule.
๐นTrue โ truly (NOT truely)
๐นFull โ fully (NOT fullly)
๐นDue โ duly (NOT duely)
๐ผ Y and I
The final -y in an adjective changes to -i- before adding -ly.
๐นHappy โ happily
๐นMerry โ merrily
๐นEasy โ easily
๐ผ Adjectives ending in consonant + le
-le changes to -ly after a consonant
๐นIdle โ idly
๐นNoble โ nobly
๐ผ Adjectives ending in -ic
Adjectives ending in -ic, have adverbs ending in -ically.
๐นTragic โ tragically
๐นPhonetic โ phonetically
๐ธ Exception
๐นPublic โ publicly
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SV RAMANUJ
====================================
๐๐ป Capital letters are used at the beginning of the following kinds of words.
๐บ1. the names of days, months and public holidays. The names of seasons do not usually begin with capital letters.
๐นSunday; Monday; Friday
๐นJanuary; March, August
๐นChristmas; Easter;
๐นsummer; autumn; winter; spring
๐บ2. the names of people and places, including stars and planets
๐นShailesh; Alka; Tina
๐นIndia; Tokyo; Paris; Singapore
๐นJupiter; Mars; Neptune
(But the earth, the sun and the moon)
๐บ3. peopleโs titles
๐นMr Shah; Dr Dave; the Chairman; the Managing Director
๐บ4. nouns and adjectives referring to nationalities and regions, languages, religions and ethnic groups
๐นHe is French.
๐นShe is Spanish.
๐นHe is a Sikh.
๐นChinese history
๐บ5. the first word in the title of books, magazines, plays, pictures, magazines etc. Sometimes other nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in the title also begin with capital letters.
๐นThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The adventures of Tom Sawyer
๐นGone with the Wind OR Gone with the wind
๐ผ Spelling :-ly
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding -ly.
๐นLate โ lately
๐นReal โ really
๐นRight โ rightly
๐นDefinite โ definitely
๐นHopeful โ hopefully
๐นComplete โ completely
๐ธ Exceptions
There are some exceptions to this rule.
๐นTrue โ truly (NOT truely)
๐นFull โ fully (NOT fullly)
๐นDue โ duly (NOT duely)
๐ผ Y and I
The final -y in an adjective changes to -i- before adding -ly.
๐นHappy โ happily
๐นMerry โ merrily
๐นEasy โ easily
๐ผ Adjectives ending in consonant + le
-le changes to -ly after a consonant
๐นIdle โ idly
๐นNoble โ nobly
๐ผ Adjectives ending in -ic
Adjectives ending in -ic, have adverbs ending in -ically.
๐นTragic โ tragically
๐นPhonetic โ phonetically
๐ธ Exception
๐นPublic โ publicly
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SV RAMANUJ
โค1
Spelling and Pronunciation --- 14
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๐๐ป Words ending in -ize and -ise
In British English some words can be spelt with either -ize or -ise. In American English, the forms with -ize is more common.
Examples are given below:
๐ต British English
Realize / realise
Computerize / computerise
Mechanize / mechanise
Baptize / baptise
๐ฃ American English
Realize
Mechanize
Computerize
Baptize
๐ถMost words of two or more syllables have -ise in both British and American English.
Examples are:
Surprise, revise, exercise, advise, comprise, despise, compromise, improvise, supervise, televise, advertise
Notes:
๐ถIn American English, advertize is also possible.
If in doubt, remember that -ise is almost always correct in British English.
๐ถ Spelling and pronunciation
In English, spelling words is not easy. In fact, even native English speakers often find it difficult to spell words correctly. This is mainly because the pronunciation of many English words has changed over
the last few hundred years. The spelling system, on the other hand, has stayed more or less the same. Here is a list of some common words that often cause difficulty.
๐ฉ In the following words the letters in brackets are not pronounced.
Ev(e)ning
Asp(i)rin
Bus(i)ness
Choc(o)late
Diff(e)rent
Ev(e)ry
Marri(a)ge
Om(e)lette
Rest(au)rant
Sev(e)ral
Med(i)cine
๐จ The following four syllable words are usually pronounced like three syllable words. The letters in brackets are usually not pronounced.
Comf(or)table
Int(e)resting
Temp(e)rature
Us(u)ally
Veg(e)table
๐ Silent letters
In the following words b is silent.
Climb, comb, dumb
๐ปIn the following words d is silent.
Handkerchief, sandwich, Wednesday
๐ปThe gh is silent in the following words.
Bought, caught, ought, thought, daughter, height, high, light, might, neighbour, right, sight, tight, straight, through, weigh
๐ปIn the following words h is silent
What, when, whip, why, honest, hour, honour
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SV RAMANUJ
=================================
๐๐ป Words ending in -ize and -ise
In British English some words can be spelt with either -ize or -ise. In American English, the forms with -ize is more common.
Examples are given below:
๐ต British English
Realize / realise
Computerize / computerise
Mechanize / mechanise
Baptize / baptise
๐ฃ American English
Realize
Mechanize
Computerize
Baptize
๐ถMost words of two or more syllables have -ise in both British and American English.
Examples are:
Surprise, revise, exercise, advise, comprise, despise, compromise, improvise, supervise, televise, advertise
Notes:
๐ถIn American English, advertize is also possible.
If in doubt, remember that -ise is almost always correct in British English.
๐ถ Spelling and pronunciation
In English, spelling words is not easy. In fact, even native English speakers often find it difficult to spell words correctly. This is mainly because the pronunciation of many English words has changed over
the last few hundred years. The spelling system, on the other hand, has stayed more or less the same. Here is a list of some common words that often cause difficulty.
๐ฉ In the following words the letters in brackets are not pronounced.
Ev(e)ning
Asp(i)rin
Bus(i)ness
Choc(o)late
Diff(e)rent
Ev(e)ry
Marri(a)ge
Om(e)lette
Rest(au)rant
Sev(e)ral
Med(i)cine
๐จ The following four syllable words are usually pronounced like three syllable words. The letters in brackets are usually not pronounced.
Comf(or)table
Int(e)resting
Temp(e)rature
Us(u)ally
Veg(e)table
๐ Silent letters
In the following words b is silent.
Climb, comb, dumb
๐ปIn the following words d is silent.
Handkerchief, sandwich, Wednesday
๐ปThe gh is silent in the following words.
Bought, caught, ought, thought, daughter, height, high, light, might, neighbour, right, sight, tight, straight, through, weigh
๐ปIn the following words h is silent
What, when, whip, why, honest, hour, honour
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SV RAMANUJ
๐1
Words ending in -ise and -ize --- 15
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๐๐ป Many English words can be spelt with either โise and โize. In American English, the spelling with โize is preferred. In British English, both forms are usually possible.
๐บ Examples are:
๐ก British English
๐นRealize / realise
๐นMechanize / mechanise
๐นComputerize / computerise
๐นBaptize / baptise
๐ค American English
๐ธRealize
๐ธMechanize
๐ธComputerize
๐ธBaptize
๐Some words have โise in both British and American English. Examples are:
๐นsurprise; revise; advise; comprise; despise; compromise; exercise; supervise; televise; advertise
In American English advertize is also sometimes possible.
๐ธ Exception
๐ธCapsize has โize in both British and American English.
๐ฎ If you are in doubt, remember that in British English the forms with โise are almost always possible.
๐Adverb formation
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding โly.
๐นPale โ palely
๐นRight โ rightly
๐นShy โ shyly
๐นSly โ slyly
๐นCoy โ coyly
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SV RAMANUJ
===============================
๐๐ป Many English words can be spelt with either โise and โize. In American English, the spelling with โize is preferred. In British English, both forms are usually possible.
๐บ Examples are:
๐ก British English
๐นRealize / realise
๐นMechanize / mechanise
๐นComputerize / computerise
๐นBaptize / baptise
๐ค American English
๐ธRealize
๐ธMechanize
๐ธComputerize
๐ธBaptize
๐Some words have โise in both British and American English. Examples are:
๐นsurprise; revise; advise; comprise; despise; compromise; exercise; supervise; televise; advertise
In American English advertize is also sometimes possible.
๐ธ Exception
๐ธCapsize has โize in both British and American English.
๐ฎ If you are in doubt, remember that in British English the forms with โise are almost always possible.
๐Adverb formation
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding โly.
๐นPale โ palely
๐นRight โ rightly
๐นShy โ shyly
๐นSly โ slyly
๐นCoy โ coyly
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SV RAMANUJ
Some useful spelling rules --- 16
===========================
๐๐ป When the word ends in a consonant
If the accent falls on the last syllable, the consonant is doubled to form the past tense.
๐ทSo we have
Occur โ> occurred
Transfer โ> transferred
When the word ends in a short vowel + consonant, the final consonant is not usually doubled to form the past tense.
๐ทTherefore
Offer โ> offered (NOT Offerred)
Budget โ> budgeted
๐ Short monosyllabic words always double their final consonant.
๐ทExamples are:
Shop โ> shopping
Let โ> letting
Cut โ> cutting
๐ปโieโ and โeiโ
The general rule is โiโ before โeโ except after โcโ
Examples are:
Siege, believe, friends
๐But
Receive, deceive, ceiling (after โcโ, we use โeโ before โIโ)
๐ There are however several exceptions to this rule. Examples are: reign, heir, seize, weird. As you can see, in all of these words, the letter โeโ goes before the letter โiโ.
๐ผDis and mis
Never double the โsโ of these prefixes. In some words, you may notice a second โsโ, but remember that it is the first letter of the next syllable.
๐ผSo we have
Dismiss (NOT Dissmiss)
Misplace
Misunderstand
Dispel
๐บSe and Ce
Se and sy are usually verb endings and ce and cy are usually noun endings. So the following words are verbs: license, practise, advise, prophesy
๐ And the following words are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice
๐The word promise is an exception to this rule. Although it ends in โse, it is a noun.
Note that this rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike.
๐Us and ous
Nouns end in โusโ. Adjectives end in โousโ.
So we have:
โ๏ธNouns: census, phosphorus, genius
โ๏ธAdjectives: jealous, unanimous, tremendous
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SV RAMANUJ
===========================
๐๐ป When the word ends in a consonant
If the accent falls on the last syllable, the consonant is doubled to form the past tense.
๐ทSo we have
Occur โ> occurred
Transfer โ> transferred
When the word ends in a short vowel + consonant, the final consonant is not usually doubled to form the past tense.
๐ทTherefore
Offer โ> offered (NOT Offerred)
Budget โ> budgeted
๐ Short monosyllabic words always double their final consonant.
๐ทExamples are:
Shop โ> shopping
Let โ> letting
Cut โ> cutting
๐ปโieโ and โeiโ
The general rule is โiโ before โeโ except after โcโ
Examples are:
Siege, believe, friends
๐But
Receive, deceive, ceiling (after โcโ, we use โeโ before โIโ)
๐ There are however several exceptions to this rule. Examples are: reign, heir, seize, weird. As you can see, in all of these words, the letter โeโ goes before the letter โiโ.
๐ผDis and mis
Never double the โsโ of these prefixes. In some words, you may notice a second โsโ, but remember that it is the first letter of the next syllable.
๐ผSo we have
Dismiss (NOT Dissmiss)
Misplace
Misunderstand
Dispel
๐บSe and Ce
Se and sy are usually verb endings and ce and cy are usually noun endings. So the following words are verbs: license, practise, advise, prophesy
๐ And the following words are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice
๐The word promise is an exception to this rule. Although it ends in โse, it is a noun.
Note that this rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike.
๐Us and ous
Nouns end in โusโ. Adjectives end in โousโ.
So we have:
โ๏ธNouns: census, phosphorus, genius
โ๏ธAdjectives: jealous, unanimous, tremendous
======================
SV RAMANUJ
๐1
Spelling Exercise --- 17
=================================
๐๐ป There are some words which can cause confusion in meaning if we are not careful about their spelling because they can be confused for another word which is very similar in spelling.
๐ถ Here are some commonly confused verbs
๐นdie / dying / died
๐นdye / dyeing / dyed
๐นhop / hopping / hopped
๐นhope / hoping / hoped
๐นmop / mopping / mopped
๐นmope / moping / moped
๐นscrap / scraping / scraped
๐นlie (recline) / lying / laid or lain
๐นlie (tell a lie) / lying / lied
==================
Complete the following sentences.
1. The rabbit .......................... across the field.
hopped
hoped
2. I was ........................... that you could lend me a pound.
hoping
hopping
3. Divya ........................ the skirt to match her blouse.
died
dyed
4. The poor woman is ...........................
dying
dyeing
5. The rough surface of the floor made ........................ difficult.
mopping
moping
6. I slipped and .......................... an elbow.
scrapped
scraped
7. The witness .......................... to the jury.
lied
laid
8. The king ............................ now in his final resting place.
lays
lies
9. I .......................... down on the couch yesterday.
lie
lay
10. Please .................................. the plate down now.
lie
lay
lain
11. The tiles were .......................... in a geometric pattern.
lied
laid
12. It is a mistake to .............................. too much emphasis on grades.
lie
lay
======================
๐ขAnswers๐ข
1. The rabbit hopped across the field.
2. I was hoping that you could lend me a pound.
3. Divya dyed the skirt to match her blouse.
4. The poor woman is dying.
5. The rough surface of the floor made mopping difficult.
6. I slipped and scraped an elbow.
7. The witness lied to the jury.
8. The king lies now in his final resting place.
9. I lay down on the couch yesterday.
10. Please lay the plate down now.
11. The tiles were laid in a geometric pattern.
12. It is a mistake to lay too much emphasis on grades.
====================
SV RAMANUJ
=================================
๐๐ป There are some words which can cause confusion in meaning if we are not careful about their spelling because they can be confused for another word which is very similar in spelling.
๐ถ Here are some commonly confused verbs
๐นdie / dying / died
๐นdye / dyeing / dyed
๐นhop / hopping / hopped
๐นhope / hoping / hoped
๐นmop / mopping / mopped
๐นmope / moping / moped
๐นscrap / scraping / scraped
๐นlie (recline) / lying / laid or lain
๐นlie (tell a lie) / lying / lied
==================
Complete the following sentences.
1. The rabbit .......................... across the field.
hopped
hoped
2. I was ........................... that you could lend me a pound.
hoping
hopping
3. Divya ........................ the skirt to match her blouse.
died
dyed
4. The poor woman is ...........................
dying
dyeing
5. The rough surface of the floor made ........................ difficult.
mopping
moping
6. I slipped and .......................... an elbow.
scrapped
scraped
7. The witness .......................... to the jury.
lied
laid
8. The king ............................ now in his final resting place.
lays
lies
9. I .......................... down on the couch yesterday.
lie
lay
10. Please .................................. the plate down now.
lie
lay
lain
11. The tiles were .......................... in a geometric pattern.
lied
laid
12. It is a mistake to .............................. too much emphasis on grades.
lie
lay
======================
๐ขAnswers๐ข
1. The rabbit hopped across the field.
2. I was hoping that you could lend me a pound.
3. Divya dyed the skirt to match her blouse.
4. The poor woman is dying.
5. The rough surface of the floor made mopping difficult.
6. I slipped and scraped an elbow.
7. The witness lied to the jury.
8. The king lies now in his final resting place.
9. I lay down on the couch yesterday.
10. Please lay the plate down now.
11. The tiles were laid in a geometric pattern.
12. It is a mistake to lay too much emphasis on grades.
====================
SV RAMANUJ
Hyphens --- 18
==============================
๐๐ป Hyphens are the short lines that separate the words in the expressions โnon-Englishโ and โex-husbandโ.
โบ๏ธ When to use hyphens?
We usually use a hyphen between the two words in a two-part adjective in which the second part ends in -ed or -ing.
๐นGood-looking
๐นBroken-hearted
๐นBlue-eyed
๐Two-part adjectives which contain the sense of โbetweenโ are also hyphenated.
๐นthe India-Pakistan match (= the match between India and Pakistan)
๐นthe Anglo-French agreement
๐A longer phrase used as an adjective before a noun is also hyphenated.
Compare:
๐นAn out-of-work singer
๐นHe is out of work. (NOT He is out-of-work.)
๐ก Prefixes
The prefixes co-, non- and ex- are sometimes separated from the following words by hyphens.
๐นEx-lover
๐นNon-cooperation
๐นCo-production
๐Hyphens are also used to separate the parts of a long word at the end of a written or printed line. To see where to divide words look in a good dictionary.
๐ฅ Are hyphens disappearing?
The rules about the usage of hyphens are very complicated. Needless to say, people seem to be using hyphens less. Many short compound words are now written with no separation between the two parts.
๐นExamples are:
weekend, takeover ,cooperation etc.
๐Many longer compound words are now written as completely separate words.
๐นExamples are:
bus driver, living room etc.
๐It is also not unusual to find the same word written in three different ways.
๐นExamples are:
living-room, living room, livingroom
๐ If you do not know whether to use a hyphen or not, the best thing to do is to write the words without a hyphen.
==================
SV RAMANUJ
==============================
๐๐ป Hyphens are the short lines that separate the words in the expressions โnon-Englishโ and โex-husbandโ.
โบ๏ธ When to use hyphens?
We usually use a hyphen between the two words in a two-part adjective in which the second part ends in -ed or -ing.
๐นGood-looking
๐นBroken-hearted
๐นBlue-eyed
๐Two-part adjectives which contain the sense of โbetweenโ are also hyphenated.
๐นthe India-Pakistan match (= the match between India and Pakistan)
๐นthe Anglo-French agreement
๐A longer phrase used as an adjective before a noun is also hyphenated.
Compare:
๐นAn out-of-work singer
๐นHe is out of work. (NOT He is out-of-work.)
๐ก Prefixes
The prefixes co-, non- and ex- are sometimes separated from the following words by hyphens.
๐นEx-lover
๐นNon-cooperation
๐นCo-production
๐Hyphens are also used to separate the parts of a long word at the end of a written or printed line. To see where to divide words look in a good dictionary.
๐ฅ Are hyphens disappearing?
The rules about the usage of hyphens are very complicated. Needless to say, people seem to be using hyphens less. Many short compound words are now written with no separation between the two parts.
๐นExamples are:
weekend, takeover ,cooperation etc.
๐Many longer compound words are now written as completely separate words.
๐นExamples are:
bus driver, living room etc.
๐It is also not unusual to find the same word written in three different ways.
๐นExamples are:
living-room, living room, livingroom
๐ If you do not know whether to use a hyphen or not, the best thing to do is to write the words without a hyphen.
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