Spelling Rules and Tricks

Silent E Enders



Many words end in a silent e. Two rules govern what happens to this e when you add suffixes.

1. Drop the silent e when the suffix begins with a vowel (a-e-i-o-u-y): -ed, -ing, -ous, -able, -y.

lose losing
louse lousy
nerve nervous
prove provable, proved

Apparent exceptions to this rule are noticeable and courageous.
However, the e is needed to keep the c and the g soft (c sounding like s, and g sounding like j).

2. Keep the silent e when the suffix begins with a consonant: -ment, -ful, -ly.

care careful
move movement
sincere
sincerely


Two exceptions are truly and ninth. Remember these with the following tricks.

truly trick: I’ll love you truly in July.
ninth trick: The ninth month is September.

 Spelling List:

1. scare 

scared
2. wipe wiped
3. hope hoping
4. lose losing
5. type typing
6. write writing
7. abuse abusive
8. advise advisable
9. debate debatable
10. nerve nervous

11. care

careful
12. hope hopeful
13. use useful
14. complete completely
15. sincere sincerely
16. sure surely
17. measure measurement
18. move movement
19. require requirement
20. like likeness

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