SAT Spelling Tips
The Spelling Rules
Spelling Rules 10/15
1.
“I” before “E” except after “C” or when said
as “Ä” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.” I
believe I will receive a blanket from my
neighbor.
Spelling Rules 10/16
2. There are many exceptions to the “I” before
“E” rule and here they are: weird, height,
seize, leisure, either, neither, and protein.
Spelling Rules – 10/17
3. The only English word ending in –sede is
supersede. The only English words ending
in –ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed.
All other words that end in this sound will be
spelled with –cede.
Spelling Rules – 10/18
4.


When adding the suffix –ness or –ly to a
word, do not change the spelling of the word
itself
sudden + ness = suddenness
truthful + ly = truthfully.
Spelling Rules – 10/21
5. When adding a prefix to a word, do not
change the spelling of the word itself:

il + logical = illogical

mis + spell = misspell

un + natural = unnatural.
Spelling Rules – 10/22
6.


Drop the final silent “e” before adding a
suffix beginning with a vowel:
nice + est = nicest
love + ing = loving
Spelling Rules – 10/23
7.


You do not drop the silent “e” in words
ending in “ce” and “ge” before a suffix
beginning with “a” or “o”:
notice + able = noticeable
courage + ous = courageous
Spelling Rules – 10/24
8.


You need to keep the final silent “e” adding a
suffix that begins with a consonant:
care + less = careless
false + hood = falsehood
Spelling Rules – 10/25
9.



When words end in “y” that is preceded by a
consonant, change the “y” to “i” when
adding a suffix unless the suffix begins with
an “i”:
beauty + ful = beautiful
carry + ing = carrying
envy + able = enviable
Spelling Rules – 10/28
10. Please remember if the word ends in “y”
preceding a vowel does not change when you
add a suffix:

pay + ment = payment

buy + er = buyer
Spelling Rules – 10/29
11. Always remember to double the final
consonant before adding the suffixes
-ing, -ed, -er, or –est to a one syllable word
that ends in a single consonant preceded by a
single vowel:

hit + er = hitter

quiz + es = quizzes
Spelling Rules – 10/30
12. The exception to the double consonant rule is
when words end with “w” or “x”:

mow + ed = mowed

wax + ing = waxing
Spelling Rules – 10/31
13. Remember when forming plural nouns
ending in “o” that precedes a vowel, just add
“-s”: video + s = videos and ratio + s = ratios.
For musical terms just add an “-s” if the
word ends in “o”: piano = pianos, alto =
altos, and trio = trios
Spelling Rules – 11/1
14. Remember when forming plural nouns
ending in “o” that precedes a consonant, you
need to add an “-es”:

hero = heroes

tomato = tomatoes

potato = potatoes

The only exception is silo = silos
Spelling Rules – 11/4
15. Some words that end in “o” can be spelled
with either “-es” or “s”:

banjos/banjoes

flamingos/flamingoes
Spelling Rules – 11/5
16. Some nouns change their spelling completely
to form the plural version:

ox = oxen

mouse = mice

octopus = octopi
Spelling Rules – 11/6
17. Some nouns have the same spelling for both
the singular form and plural form:

fish = fish

tuna = tuna

salmon = salmon

Chinese = Chinese

moose = moose
Spelling Rules – 11/7
18. This is also true for irregular verbs. They
have the same spelling for both the present
and past tense:

Hit

Burst

Hurt

Put

Let
Almost Right Words 11/8
Affect & Effect
 Affect = influence (verb). What affect does
that medicine have?
 Effect = result (noun) or to bring about (verb).
You need to write a cause and effect essay.
Almost Right Words – 11/13
Continuous & Continual
 Continuous = something that never stops
(adj.). His talking was continuous.
 Continual = something that starts and stops
over and over (adj.). We will begin our
continual coverage of the election in ½ hr.
Almost Right Words – 11/14
Except & Accept
 Except = to exclude or leave out (verb). I will
allow everyone to turn in late work, except
Kalani.
 Accept = to receive (verb). I will gladly accept
this award.
Almost Right Words - 11/15
Farther & Further
 Farther = means distance. How much farther
do we have to go?
 Further = talks about time and intensity.
Without further hesitation, Harry leapt onto the
dragon’s scaly back.
Almost Right Words – 11/18
Fewer & Less
 Fewer = describes items that you can count
(i.e. books, flowers, and boats). You need to
make fewer mistakes.
 Less = describes items that you measure (i.e.
ability, intensity, and headaches). I want less
talking, please.
Almost Right Words – 11/19
Good & Well
 Good = describes nouns and pronouns (adj.).
That’s a good job.
 Well = describes how you are doing or how
you did on something (adv.). I did well on my
test.
 Well = also describes how you are physically
feeling. I feel well today.
Almost Right Words – 11/20
Lie & Lay
 Lie = means to recline. I like to lie down and
take a nap.
 Lay = means to place something down.
Please lay the book on the table.
 Lay = can also be past tense for lie. I had to
lay down for awhile.
Almost Right Words – 11/21
May & Can
 May = asking for permission. May I go to the
bathroom?
 Can = you have the physical ability to do
something. I can give my impromptu speech
now.
Almost Right Words – 11/22
Bad & Badly
 Bad = adjective and modifies either a noun or
pronoun. The bad kitty tore up the sofa.
 Badly = adverb and will explain how
something is doing. I did badly on my test
today.
Almost Right Words – 11/25
Earth & earth
 Earth = capitalized, it is referring to the planet.
The planet Earth is third from the sun.
 When “earth” is in lower case, it is referring to
the ground. The earth was parched from a lack
of rain water.
Sounds Alike – 11/26
Stationary & Stationery
 Stationary = adjective and means to be in a
fixed position. Is that a stationary bike?
 Stationery = noun and is a piece of writing
paper. That is beautiful stationery.
Sounds Alike – 11/27
Formally & Formerly
 Formally = dignity or following strict rules
and procedures. As beneficiaries of Ke Ali’i
Pauahi’s legacy, you must always carry
yourself formally when representing the
school.
 Formerly = something that occurred at an
earlier date; previously. Formerly, people
thought the sun revolved around the Earth.
Sounds Alike – 12/2
Council & Counsel
 Council = group called together to accomplish
a job. The council advised the virtuoso to go
to Julliard.
 Counsel = noun means advice. He needs legal
counsel in the matter. As a verb, counsel
means to give advice. He was counseled not
to make glib remarks to the teacher.
Sounds Alike – 12/3
Capital & Capitol
 Capital = city or the location of government.
The capital of Hawai’i is on O’ahu.
 Capitol = building or statehouse. The capitol
has a golden dome on the top.
Sounds Alike – 12/4
Already & All ready
 Already = previously and is a prep. We have
already digressed from the topic.
 All ready = adjective and means all prepared
or in readiness. The muse is all ready to go on
stage.
Almost Right (but not quite…) –
12/5



No such thing as irregardless; it’s regardless.
Never say, “The reason is because…”; instead
say, “The reason is that…”
Could of/Should of/Would of is wrong; replace
“of” with “have.”
Sounds Alike – 12/6
All right & Alright
 All right = as an adj. it means safe & sound as
an adv. it means yes & very well
 Alright = is actually incorrect and shouldn’t be
used in formal writing