Spelling Patterns

There are some words in which the letters have a pattern, or an order in which they are written.

• Some letters can be in the middle or the end but not in the beginning
  
  Examples: “ck” in bracket and back
  
  
• Sounding a word can help you spell it. words that end with a long “I” sound are often spelled with a “y” at the end
  
  Examples: say, play
  
  
• The vowels “ei” come together in many words, especially after the letter “C.” The vowels “ie” come together in many words making the long “e” sound.
  
  Examples: receive, quiet
  
  
• Suffixes
  
  
  1. Drop a silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel
     
     Example:hope+ing=hoping
     
     
  2. Do not drop the silent e if the suffix you are adding begins with a consonant
     
     Example: safe+ty=safety
     
     
  3. The spelling of a root word does not usually change when adding the suffix –ly
     
     Example: kindly; exception: truly.
     
     
  4. The suffix –ful has one l. When added –ful usually does not change the spelling of the root word.
     
     Example: hurtful, exception: beautiful