Neither the feisty weird foreigner nor her beige neighbor seizes leisure or forfeits height during a heist.
Have you ever noticed how many words in the English language end in the letter ‘e’ where that “e”, even though it is never pronounced? The “e” is silent. Why is it there? Sometimes it is there to indicate pronunciation within the word, for a vowel: PIN vs PINE, or for a consonant: STAG vs STAGE.
write + ing = writing
love + able = lovable
use + age = usage
excite + ment = excitement
care + ful = careful
nine + ty = ninety
The –y ending
scurry + ed = scurried
sturdy + er = sturdier
costly + ness = costliness
delay + ing = delaying
buy + ing = buying
hurry + ing = hurrying
employ + ed = employed
play + ful = playful
delay + ed = delayed
Spelling rules can be tricky. English is full of surprises. Sometimes, the rules work. Other times, they don’t. That can make writing feel confusing. But don’t worry—there are ways to make it easier.
First, remember the spelling rules you’ve learned. They give you a good place to start. Look for patterns. For example, “i before e except after c.” Or, “drop the e before adding -ing.” These spelling rules help most of the time.
But English has a lot of exceptions. That’s why it’s smart to use tools like spell-check. Programs like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, even your email software can catch many errors. They make writing easier. Still, spell-check is not perfect. It can miss mistakes. Sometimes, it even suggests the wrong word.
So, what should you do? Use both spelling rules and spell-check together. Pay attention to the rules you know. Double-check words that look strange. If you’re not sure, look it up. There are many online dictionaries and apps that can help.
In the end, spelling rules are here to help you. They make writing clearer. They help you share your ideas. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Everyone makes them. Just keep using your spelling rules, and you’ll get better every day!
Silent E | Phonics Songs for Kids | Jack Hartmann (Video)
Five Spelling Rules for “Silent Final E”
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