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Spelling Rules

I. Doubling Final Consonants

1. When a one-syllable word (run) ends in one vowel (u) and one consonant (n) then that consonant is doubled (nn) before a suffix with a vowel (er), e.g., runner, swimmer, hopper.

2. A word of more than one syllable (occur) ending in a single vowel (u) and single consonant (r), which has the accent on the final syllable, doubles that consonant (rr) before a suffix beginning with a vowel (occuRRing).  Remember, the accent must be on the final syllable.  Thus, benefit would not double the t because the accent is on the first syllable. e.g., admit, allot. 

3. Special case: Words ending in C, add K before a suffix beginning with e, i, or y. e.g., picnic, picnicked, panicky

II. The Final Y

1. The final Y following a vowel remains Y when suffixes are added.  The suffixes may be s, ing, or ed, er, ance, al. e.g., journeys, attorneys, jockeyed

2. When a consonant precedes the Y, the Y changes to I when suffixes are added. Suffixes  which may be added:  es, ful, ness, ed, ly. e.g., ally, allies, tragedy, tragedies

   EXCEPTION:  There is only one case where the y is retained. This is before adding ing. e.g., carry, carrier, carrying, copy, copier, copying

III. Silent E

1. When a word ends in a silent E, the E is dropped before a suffix beginning with a vowel.  Suffixes:  er, est, able, ing, ity, etc. e.g., advise, advising, adviser. There are some exceptions, but usually there is a good reason for keeping the "e" in an exceptional case, e.g., canoeing preserves the e because of the pronunciation; dyeing and singeing keep the e to differentiate them from dying and singing.

2. When the suffix begins with a consonant, the silent E is retained, e.g., complete - completeNESS, expensiveNESS. (Exception:  whole + ly = wholly.)

3. Special case - when the word ends in a double e, the final E is not dropped. e.g., agree - agreeable, see - seeing.
   • When the word ends in ue, retain the final E (e.g., except for due, true, where the E is dropped before ly - e.g., duly, truly, etc., etc.)

   • Words ending in CE or GE will retain the final E when adding suffixes beginning with A or O, e.g., notice - noticeable, courageous.