How to improve your Spelling

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<< DOWNLOADS << WRITING SKILLS << STUDY SKILLS How to improve your Spelling 1. You can improve your spelling skills by reading and writing as much as possible - and checking your work. 2. If you are not sure about the correct spelling of a word, look it up in a good dictionary. 3. The best ways to improve your spelling are: learn commonly mis-spelled words learn the common rules of spelling learn good spelling strategies Commonly mis-spelled words 4. The most commonly mis-spelled words are probably there/their, its/it's, to/too/two, and are/our. 5. This problem is caused because these words sound the same as each other. Here's how to tell them apart. 6. There refers to a place, whereas their means belonging to them. *The table is over there, in the corner* there refers to a place *We are going to their* house** their means belonging to them 7. Its means belonging to, whereas It's is a shortened form of It is. *The dog is in its* basket** its means belonging to the dog It's too late now means It is too late 8. To means towards, too means very or in addition, and two is the number 2. We are going to the concert here to means towards *It was too* cold for swimming means it was very cold He ate two chocolate bars means the number 2** 9. Are is part of the verb 'to be' - as in we are, whereas our means belonging to us. We are in the same class at school This is the verb 'to be', as in I am/we are We have flowers in our garden That is, the garden belongs to us Spelling explains why spelling is rather difficult in English, and he offers a variety of solutions to the problem. He covers spelling rules, 'difficult' words, how words change because of grammar, double and single letters, and how to work out spelling patterns. The emphasis is on compact, no-nonsense advice directly related to issues of everyday life. Beginners will find his approach very helpful, and even advanced users will probably learn a thing or two. Common spelling rules 10. Almost all words have only one correct spelling - but there are occasional exceptions. Judgement for instance can also be spelled judgment. 11. One of the easiest rules to remember is I before E, except after C - but you need to be careful, because there are plenty of exceptions. I before E believe - chief - friend - thief C followed by EI ceiling - receive - deceit - conceive EXCEPTIONS either - neither - foreign - height - seize - leisure Doubling of consonants 12. If a word ends in a vowel and a single consonant, double the consonant before adding -ing or -ed. swim/swimming ship/shipped stop/stopping occur/occurred 13. If the vowel is unstressed, or if there are two vowels, do not double the consonant. enter/entering shout/shouted develop/developing appeal/appealed 14. If the word ends in -c, change the -c to -ck before adding the ending. panic/panicked picnic/picnicking Stylewriter is a software program which offers help with writing skills such as summarising, editing, and proof-reading your work. It also offers a selection of writing styles to choose from - academic writing, journalism, formal prose, and so on. Mistakes and suggestions for improvement are highlighted and made with a single click. Commonly mis-spelled words The following words are often spelt wrongly. There is no short way round this problem. You simply have to learn the correct spelling. acceptable - double c, not -ible. accommodation - double c and double m achieve - i before e except after c assess - two lots of double s believe - i before e except after c communicate - double m convenient - i before e except after c definite - -ite, not -ate disappear - double p [dis+appear] disappoint double p [dis+appoint] necessary - one c, double s receive - i before e, except after c recommend - double c [re+commend] stationary - means not moving - use a stationery - paper we write on - use e success - double c, double s weird - an exception to the rule NB! One final point. Using a spelling-checker is not cheating. You should use one to check your work - and learn correct spellings at the same time. Improve your Writing Skills shows you how to develop the quality and effectiveness of your writing. Packed with good examples and handy hints, it features clear advice written in non-technical language, and quick solutions to common problems. Suitable for anybody writing reports, business proposals, memos, or academic documents. This will help you to clarify and sharpen your written communication skills.
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