PRINCIPLES OF SPELLING. GENERAL RULES. RULE I. When a syllable beginning with a vowel is added to a word that ends in e, the e is left out; as in gaze, gazing. Note.-y is a vowel when it forms a separate syllable. a.-The e is not left out before ing in the following words :-being, agreeing, seeing, shoeing, dyeing (cloth), b.-e is usually retained before an augment beginning with a consonant, but it is left out in truly, duly, duty, wholly, awful, argument. c.-When e is preceded by c or g (soft), it is retained before able; as in peaceable, changeable. RULE II. —When a word ending in Il is joined to another word, one is left out. Note. This may happen either at the beginning or at the end of a word; as in welcome, until. RULE III.-When an addition is made to a word which ends in y, the y is changed into i; as in lady, ladies. a.-y is not changed into i before ing; as in crying. b.-y is not changed when there is a vowel before it; as in joyful. EXCEPTIONS-pay, paid; lay, laid; say, said; day, daily; gay, gaily. c.-Before ous the y is sometimes changed into e; as in beauteous, duteous, piteous, and plenteous. RULE IV.-When ing is added to a word that ends in ie, the ie is changed into y. die, dy-ing lie, ly-ing tie, ty-ing RULE V. The last letter of a word is doubled, if the word is of one syllable, and ends in a single consonant which has before it a single vowel, when a syllable which begins with a vowel is added to the end of the word; as in sitting, putting, wagging. a.-Words accented on the last syllable follow the same general rule as words of one syllable; as in pre-fer', pre-fer'-ring. b.-Words not accented on the last syllable do not double the final letter; as in prof-fer, prof'-fering. EXCEPTIONS,-In words that end in the 7 is doubled, although the accent does not fall upon the last syllable; as in quarrelled, travelled, jew'-eller. NOTE.-American books now spell such words with one l. RULE VI.-When eive or ieve is used, ei follows c, and ie is used after any other letter; as in deceive, believe. RULE VII.-Words ending in 8, sh, ch (soft), x, or o, add es rather than s; as in mosses, dishes, churches, foxes, heroes. a.-When ch is hard it is followed by s; as in monarchs. RULE VIII.-In many nouns ƒ is changed into v in the plural, as in knife, knives; wife, wives. WORDS PRONOUNCED ALIKE, OR NEARLY ALIKE, BUT SPELLED DIFFERENTLY. ceiling.... The ceiling of the room. The sealing sealing tease.... pleas.... peas.... sowing.... tray bury seize I'll valet...... currant.... wax. Did you tease him about his bad teas? A definite number of peas. An indefinite Sowing seeds. Sewing cloth. A tea tray. A trait of character. teas please pease sewing trait berry seas isle The Duke and his valet were in the valley valley. The black currants will be ripe during current the current month. They bawled about his bald head. bawled.... bald fined...... flour..... hire lowed.... He has been fined, and if he cannot find find Loaves are made of flour. The rose is a flower The hire is higher than in Paris. The ox lowed under his heavy load. mettle..... He is a man of mettle. Iron is a metal. prophet.... He was a prophet. Profit means gain. profit higher load metal |