ENGLISH SPELLING
English spelling is often called an ‘Unholy Muddle’. Celebrated German Philologist and Orientalist, Max Mueller called it ‘a national misfortune’ as he found the discrepancies in spelling English – unintelligible, unhistorical and un-teachable. The great man was right, because there is not a single rule that does not have its exception !!!
Still, I’m on my way to share the rules of spelling English – the same rules that have stood me in good stead over the years with you, ( Except on a few occasions 
), – Dear Friends.
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” 
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Rule 1 : Using I Before E
Except after c,
or
When sounded as "a" as in "neighbor" and "weigh."
EXAMPLES: believe, chief, piece, receive.
COMMON EXCEPTIONS: efficient, ancient, foreign.
Rule 2 : Dropping the Final E
Drop the final e before a suffix beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) but not before a suffix beginning with a consonant.
EXAMPLES:
ride + ing = riding
guide + ance = guidance
hope + ing = hoping
BUT...
entire + ly = entirely
like + ness = likeness
arrange + ment = arrangement
COMMON EXCEPTIONS: truly, noticeable
Rule 3: Changing a Final Y to I
Change a final y to i before a suffix, unless the suffix begins with i.
EXAMPLES:
defy + ance = defiance
party + es = parties
pity + ful = pitiful
try + es = tries
try + ing = trying
copy + ing = copying
occupy + ing = occupying
COMMON EXCEPTION: journeying.
Rule 4 : Doubling a Final Consonant
One syllable word ending in a single consonant preceded by a vowel = Last consonant of the main word will be DOUBLED if suffix begins with a vowel.
Example: Run + er = Runner
BUT ……….. The above rule does not apply if
- There are two vowels or two consonants in the main word
Ex : Fooled ( NOT Foolled )
OR
- If the main word ends in a vowel , as for example :
Cue
I know that learned members here are quite aware of the existence of these rules. Yet I have shared the same, because I have felt that at times going back to the basics helps.
Regards,
SB
CAclubindia
