SPELLING RULES and aids - Australian English

(Taken from Word Usage Book)

 

Sounds Examples Letter/s
  • the ‘ay’ sound
t - a - ble

m - ay

h - ai - l

eigh - t

a

ay

ai

eigh
  • the ‘or’ sound
 or

d - oor

m - ore

j - aw

d - augh - ter

awe

w - a - ter

or

oor

ore

aw

augh

awe

a
  • the ‘air’ sound
m - are

ch - air

th - ere

th - eir

th - ey’re

b - err - y

m - ar - y

b - ear

sc - ar - ce

aer - ial

 are

air

ere

eir

ey’re

err

ar

ear

ar

aer

  • the ‘uh’ sound
wat - er

hum - our

elevat - or

er

our

or
  • the ‘oooh’ sound
 l - u- ke

s - ou - p

J - ew

t - o

t - oo

u

ou

ew

o

oo
  • the ‘ oo’ sound
b - oo - k

c - oul - d

oo

oul
  • the ‘ ow’ sound
br - ow - n

s - ou - r

p - a - l

ow

ou

a
  • the ‘ ee’ sound
 b - ee

l - ea -p

L - eigh

th - e - mes

m - e

ee

ea

eigh

e ( me )

e
  • the ‘oh’ sound
st - ow

g - o

d - oe

br - o - ke

ow

o

oe

o ( in the middle of words )

  • the ‘aff’ sound
 l - augh - ter

af - ter

car - affe

m - uff - ler

augh

af

affe

uff

  • the ‘ss’ sound
 hu- st - ler

c - ygnet

psy - chologist

sc - issors

sci - ss - ors

st

c

psy

sc

ss
  • the ‘on’ sound
w - an - der  
  • the ‘ ll’ sound
ped - al

ped - le , capab - le

ca - ll

cu - ll

counc - il

al

le

ll

il
  • the ‘ er ‘ sound
P - er - th

m - ir - th

w - ere

w - or - th

p - ur - pose

er

ir

ere

or

ur

  • the ‘urry’ sound
bound - ary

congratulat - ory

inj - ury

monast - ery

infant - ry

ary

ory

ury

ery

ry

 

 

AIDS TO SPELLING

 

Spelling Rule 1

Words which end in a single consonant preceded by a short, accented vowel-sound double the consonant when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added.

Bat batted batting batter

transmit transmitted transmitting transmitter

 

Spelling Rule 2

Words which end in a single consonant preceded by a LONG accented vowel do not double the consonant when a suffix is added.

Beat beaten beating

conceal concealed concealing

 

 

Spelling Rule 3

Words ending in a single consonant other than L, but not accented ion the last syllable, do not double the consonant when a suffix is added

gallop galloper

visit visitor

consider consideration

 

Spelling Rule 4

Words which end in a single L double the L when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added

chisel chiselling

 

Spelling Rule 5

When the sound rhymens with KEY , write I before E except after C

relieve

field

frontier

aggrieve

BUT

receive

ceiling

 

Spelling Rule 6

Words ending in -ce and -ge drop the - e when -ing is added, but retain the -e when -able or ous is added

notice, noticing, noticeable

change, changing, changeable

 

Rule 7

The prefixes DIS and MIS never drop their S even when added to a word beginning with S

dis - ability

mis - fortune

Rule 8

Words ending in E drop the E before a suffix beginning with a vowel BUT retain it before a suffix beginning with a consonant

move movable movement

care caring carefree

 

 

Rule 9

Adjectives ending in LE after a consonant form adverbs by dropping the E and adding Y

gentle gently

noble nobily

 

Rule 10

Adjectives other than those ending in LE after a consonant form their adverbs by adding LY

cool coolly

pale palely

pretty prettily