Rules for Spelling. The value of the Rules for Spelling will depend much upon the pupil's familiarity with the exceptions. These exceptions are really very few when compared with the thousands of words controlled by the Rules. Rule I. Most words ending in silent e drop the e before a suffix beginning with a vowel. EXAMPLE: choose, choosing; change, changing. Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Exceptions to Rule I. Some words ending in e retain the e before a suffix beginning with a vowel, to prevent a change in pronunciation, or to preserve the identity of the word. It is inferred from Rule I. that e is not dropped before a suffix beginning with a consonant, but the following are exceptions: Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things to be met with. - De La Bruyere. I Some words pronounced alike. 1. Copy carefully. 2. Write from dictation. 3. Use the italicized words in sentences of your own. 1. From the blue rim, where skies and mountains meet, Down to the very turf beneath my feet, Ten thousand charms. - WILLIAM COWPER. 2. Not the meat, but appetite Makes our eating a delight. — Robert Burns. 3. It was meet that we should make merry. - BIBLE. 4. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.- BIBLE. 5. All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn wreath'd with nodding corn. 6. Sure if they cannot cut, it may be said - ALEXANDER POPE. 7. There was one song, among the rest, Above them all it pleas'd me best. - ROBERT BURNS. 8. And the soft breeze from the west Scarcely broke their dreamy rest. -JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 9. Wrest from the unwilling earth his luxuries. -PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. Rules for Spelling. Rule II. In monosyllables and words accented on the last syllable, a final consonant after a single vowel doubles before a suffix beginning with a vowel (x, k, and v are never doubled). EXAMPLES: bud, bud ding; pre fer, pre fer red. While I nodded, nearly napping, As of some one gently rapping, Rapping at my chamber door. -EDGAR ALLAN POE. While Twilight's curtain gathering far Is pinned with a single diamond star. As when the setting sun has given - M'DONALD Clarke. Ten thousand hues to summer even.- -SIR WALTER SCOTT. Exceptions to Rule II. The final consonant is not doubled when, in the derivative, the accent is thrown from the last syllable of the primitive; as prefer', pref'er ence; refer', ref'er ence. But we have ex cel', ex'cel lent, ex'cel lence. Learn to spell the following words. (Why are 1, r, and t not doubled in the following words?) re vealed of fered lim it ed slum ber ing Some words pronounced alike. 1. Copy carefully. 2. Write from dictation. 3. Use the italicized words in sentences of your own. 1. The rugged trees are mingling Their flowery sprays in love; The ivy climbs the laurel To clasp the boughs above. - WILLIAM CULLEN BRyant. 2. A compliment is usually accompanied with a bow, as if to beg pardon for paying it. —J. C. AND A. W. HARE. 3. Gracefully, gracefully glides our bark And before her bows the wavelets dark 4. I owed a trifle, and have paid the debt. 5. Once more I'll read the ode that I have writ. 6. And lovely is the silvery scene. When faint the sunbeams smile. - ROBERT SOUTHEY. 7. Doth not my wit become me rarely? It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your cap. 8. In every scene some moral let it teach, And, if it can, at once both please and preach. - ALEXANDER Pope. |