SPELLING RULES

The Floss Rule

If a one syllable base word end in the /f/, /l/, or /s/ sound immediately after a short vowel, the /f/ sound is spelled ff, the /l/ sound is spelled ll and /s/ sound is spelled ss.

Example: staff hill dress

The Rabbit Rule

One medial consonant sound immediately after a short vowel in a two-syllable base word is spelled with double consonants.

Example: tennis wallet wiggle

The Doubling Rule

If a base word ends in one vowel, one consonant and one accent, double the final consonant before adding a vowel suffix.

Example: rob +er = robber star +ing = starring admit + ed = admitted

The Dropping Rule

If a base word ends in final silent e, drop the e before adding a vowel suffix.

Example: name +ed = named close +ing = closing provide +er = provider

The Changing Rule

If a base word ends in a consonant and a final y, change the y to I before adding a suffix that does not begin with i.

Example: try +ed = tried silly +est = silliest reply +es = replies