There are words that follow the spelling rules, and some that break all of them. Here are the tips you need on how to spell English words!
English can be a tricky language. While English may not be the hardest language to learn, mastering it is no easy feat!
Have you ever tried to spell a word, only to be even more confused? Not knowing how to spell a word can be embarrassing and frustrating.
Tenses and pronunciation aside, spelling English words may be the most difficult part of the language! And sadly not all of us carry around pocket dictionaries.
You are not alone in misspelling words. Even those with a native English tongue misspell words!
If you’re looking for tips for spelling English words, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when you are figuring out how to spell a word.
Helpful tips for knowing how to spell words
1. Sound out the word
As simple as this sounds, sometimes spelling out the word is all that is needed. Repeatedly say the word aloud.While this may not get you the proper spelling, it puts you on the right path.
If sounding it out doesn’t help, try writing the word out as you pronounce it. Seeing the letters on paper may allow you to figure out the correct spelling.
2. Know common spelling rules
English has a variety of common spelling rules such as:
- “i” before “e”, except after “c” (receive, piece, chief)
- drop the final “e” before a suffix that starts with a vowel (ie. bike + ing = biking)
- the final “y” becomes an “i” unless the suffix starts with “i”
Knowing these common spelling rules can help when you don’t have a dictionary handy.
3. Know common Greek and Latin roots
Many English words are made up of two or more Greek or Latin roots. Words such as telephone, audience, beneficial, and advocate all use common roots. Recognizing these roots, and their meanings will help with spelling words.
4. Break up the word
Chunking isn’t just for remembering phone numbers! Chunk a big word into smaller pieces. By chunking the word into groups of 3 to 4 letters, you can more easily remember how to spell words in the future.
Chunking is most helpful for spelling bigger words. Soon enough you’ll be spelling pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis with ease!
5. Know what words rhyme
Understanding words that rhyme helps to build phonemic awareness. For example, if you can spell the word dog, you can also spell hog, bog, and jog.
Understanding word sound patterns will improve your ability to speak and write proper English. Rhyming isn’t just for poets and rappers!
With these tips in mind, you can reduce the frustration of spelling English words. Of course, knowing how to spell English words is just one part of the equation!
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