I. Some spelling rules

I. Doubling the final consonant.

Rule 1. A final single consonant letter is doubled before a suffix beginning with a vowel (-able, -ing, -er, -est, etc.) if

a) the last syllable of the word is stressed, and

b) the final consonant is preceded by a short vowel represented by a single letter,

e.g. red-redder, redden, reddish; begin-beginning; thin-thinned, thinner. But: repeat-repeated, repeating; develop-developed, developing.

Note 1. The words handicap, kidnap, outfit, worship are exceptions:

handicapped-handicapping; kidnapped-kidnapping; outfitted-outfltting-ouifitter; worshipped-worshipping-worshipper.

Note 2. Final r is doubled if preceded by a letter representing a stressed vowel, no matter if it is long or short (but not a diphthong): e.g. occur-occurred

refer-referred But: differ-differed

appear-appeared

Note 3. Final l is doubled if it is preceded by a short vowel (stressed or

unstressed). It is not doubled if preceded by a long vowel or a diphthong: e.g. travel-travelling

expel-expelled But: reveal-revealed

Rule 2.

A final single consonant is not doubled if

a) preceded by an unstressed vowel: e.g. open-opened, opening

limit-limited-limiting;

b) preceded by a vowel sound represented by two letters: e.g. look-looked-looking

turn-turned-turning;

c) the suffix begins with a consonant: e.g. hot-hotly (but: hottest)

forget-forgetful (but: unforgettable).

II. Mute Final e.

Rule 1.

Final mute e is usually dropped before a suffix beginning with a vowel letter; otherwise it would make two consecutive vowels: guide-guidance; amuse-amusing; fame-famous; refuse-refusal.

But: age-ageing.

Note 1. e is retained to show pronunciation in such words as: courage-corageous; advantage-advantageous; service-serviceable.

Note 2. e is also kept after o: toe-toeing; shoe-shoeing; canoe-canoeing; tiptoe-tiptoeing.

Note 3. Verbs ending in -ie change the ie into у before -ing to avoid a double i: die-dying; tie-tying; lie-lying.

Note 4. Double e (ее) is retained before all suffixes except those beginning with e (• ed, -er, -est): agree-agreeable; see-seeing.

Note 5. Rule 1 is not strictly observed in the case of monosyllabic words when they are likely to be misread: likeable; seatable or likable, seatable.

Rule 2.

Mute e is retained before a suffix beginning with a consonant (to keep the pronunciation): safe-safety; nine-nineteen; whole-wholesome; care-careful. Exceptions to the rule: due-duly; true-truly; whole-wholly; argue-argument; nine-ninth.

III. Final -y and Its Modifications.

Rule 1. Words ending in -y preceded by a consonant change -y into -;' before all endings except -ing: dry-dries; forty-fortieth; cry-cried; carry-carriage; clumsy-clumsier; pity-pitiful; happy happily; merry-merriment. But: drying, crying, frying, applying.

Note 1. Words ending in -y preceded by a consonant drop the -y before suffixes beginning with -4: -ic, -ical, -ism, -ist:

economy-economic, economical;

history-historic, historical;

geology-deological, geologist

Note 2. Final -y is retained:

a) in personal names: Mary-Marys, Gatsby-the Gatsbys;

b) in some words before the suffixes -hood, -ish, -1st, -like, -thing: babyhood, copyist, ladyship, ladylike, anything, everything;

c) in some monosyllabic words before -er, -est, -ly, -ness: shy-shyer, shyest, shyness; sly-slyer, slyest, slyly, slyness; dry-dryly, dryness (both forms are possible in dryer-drier, flyer-flier).

Note 3. Final -y changes to -e before -ous: piteous, beauteous, plenteous, duteous.

Rule 2. Final -y preceded by a vowel letter is retained before all suffixes: day-days, play-playful, pay-pays, payment; enjoy-enjoyable.

Exceptions: gay-gaily, gaiety; day-daily.

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