There are but few rules which can be learned to aid in the spelling of
English words. The spelling of words must be largely mastered by
concentration and effort of the memory. It will help you to memorize the
correct spelling if you will write each word a number of times. This
gives you a visual image of the word. Then spell it aloud a number of
times. This will give you an auditory image.
Words which you find difficult to master, write in a list by themselves
and review frequently. There are a few rules, however, which are helpful
to know. There is one rule of spelling we want to learn this week
concerning words formed by adding a suffix.
+A word of one syllable which ends in a single consonant before which
stands a single vowel, doubles the final consonant when a suffix
beginning with a vowel is added.+
For example: _mat_, _matted_, _matting_; _sun_, _sunned_, _sunning_.
_Mat_ ends in _t_, a single consonant which is preceded by the single
vowel _a_,--so you double the _t_ when you add the suffix _ed_ or _ing_,
which begin with a vowel.
Notice these: _Blend_, _blended_, _blending_; _Help_, _helped_,
_helping_.
These words do not end in a single consonant, so you do not double the
consonant.
Notice also: _Lean_, _leaned_, _leaning_; _Rain_, _rained_, _raining_.
These words end in a single consonant, but before the consonant is a
double vowel, _ea_ in _lean_ and _ai_ in _rain_. So we do not double the
final consonant.
This same rule holds true of any suffix, beginning with a vowel, as _er_
and _est_, for example: _sad_, _sadder_, _saddest_. _Slim_, _slimmer_,
_slimmest_.
Learn to spell the following words. Add the suffixes _ed_ and _ing_ to
the words for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Add _er_ and _est_ to the
words for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
+Monday+
Chat
Cheat
Grin
Groan
Suit
+Tuesday+
Sap
Soap
Bet
Beat
Rot
+Wednesday+
Talk
Teach
Gain
Stir
Plan
+Thursday+
Thin
Dear
Flat
Cheap
Straight
+Friday+
Clean
Brief
Fair
Shrill
Wet
+Saturday+
Strong
Great
Mad
Fleet
Fat