Spelling

Understanding Spelling:

• Familiarise yourself with frequently used words, as these often contain patterns that are useful in spelling less familiar words.

• Regularly use flashcards, quizzes or spelling games to reinforce recognition and spelling of essential vocabulary.

• Know the common rules and exceptions for English spelling, such as ‘i before e, except after c’, adding ‘es’ to create plural for words ending in ‘s’, ‘x’ or ‘z’, or changing ‘y’ to ‘ies’ for words ending in ‘y’.

• Use mnemonic devices where possible to help remember difficult words. For example, remember ‘necessary’ by noting it has one collar (c) and two socks (s).

• When it comes to homophones – words that sound alike but are spelled differently – remember the correct spelling by understanding their meanings.

• Be aware of commonly misspelt words like ‘accommodate’, ‘definitely’, ‘occurrence’ – it helps to remember little tips like ‘accommodate’ has two c’s and two m’s, ‘definitely’ does not have an ‘a’, and ‘occurrence’ has two c’s and two r’s.

• Break up words into their syllables. This can often simplify the spelling process and make it easier to remember.

• Understand root words, prefixes and suffixes, and how they affect the spelling of words.

• Be mindful of words derived from other languages that might not follow the general rules of English spelling.

• Finally, make it a habit to proofread your written work before finalising, as most spelling errors are due to carelessness and can be corrected on revision.