Spelling Rules
1. I before E except after C or when it sounds like A as in Neighbor or Weigh.
Examples: achieve, friend, chief, niece, ceiling, deceit, receive, believe, weigh, reign
Exceptions: either, leisure, neither, seize, weird
2. The only English word ending in -sede is supersede. The only words ending in -ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed. Most other words end with -cede.
Examples: concede, precede, secede, intercede
3. When adding a prefix, do not change the spelling of the original word.
Examples: im+mortal=immortal, re+elect=reelect, mis+spell= misspell
4. To form the plural of most English words, add -s
Examples: boats, houses, nickels
5. For nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add -es
Examples: glasses, boxes, waltzes, beaches
6. For nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i and add -es
Examples: armies, babies, skies, mysteries
7. For proper nouns, add -s
Examples: Kennedys
8. For nouns ending in a y preceded by a vowel, add-s
Examples:joys, keys, toys
9. For some nouns ending in f or fe, add-s. For others, change the f or fe, to v and add- es.
Examples: beliefs, roofs, safes, giraffes, calves, wives, leaves, shelves
10. For nouns ending in an o preceded by a vowel, add-s
Examples: radios, patios, stereos
11. For nouns ending in an o preceded by a consonant add-es.
Examples: echoes, heroes, vetoes, tomatoes, potatoes.
Rule Breakers: pianos, tacos
12. Some plurals are irregular
Example: foot/feet, child/children, mouse/mice, goose/geese
13. For some nouns the singular and plural are the same.
Examples: deer, sheep, Japanese
1. I before E except after C or when it sounds like A as in Neighbor or Weigh.
Examples: achieve, friend, chief, niece, ceiling, deceit, receive, believe, weigh, reign
Exceptions: either, leisure, neither, seize, weird
2. The only English word ending in -sede is supersede. The only words ending in -ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed. Most other words end with -cede.
Examples: concede, precede, secede, intercede
3. When adding a prefix, do not change the spelling of the original word.
Examples: im+mortal=immortal, re+elect=reelect, mis+spell= misspell
4. To form the plural of most English words, add -s
Examples: boats, houses, nickels
5. For nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add -es
Examples: glasses, boxes, waltzes, beaches
6. For nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i and add -es
Examples: armies, babies, skies, mysteries
7. For proper nouns, add -s
Examples: Kennedys
8. For nouns ending in a y preceded by a vowel, add-s
Examples:joys, keys, toys
9. For some nouns ending in f or fe, add-s. For others, change the f or fe, to v and add- es.
Examples: beliefs, roofs, safes, giraffes, calves, wives, leaves, shelves
10. For nouns ending in an o preceded by a vowel, add-s
Examples: radios, patios, stereos
11. For nouns ending in an o preceded by a consonant add-es.
Examples: echoes, heroes, vetoes, tomatoes, potatoes.
Rule Breakers: pianos, tacos
12. Some plurals are irregular
Example: foot/feet, child/children, mouse/mice, goose/geese
13. For some nouns the singular and plural are the same.
Examples: deer, sheep, Japanese