Spelling • Correct and incorrect spellings

 

Spelling: Full-Length Notes

Topic: Correct and Incorrect Spellings

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1. Importance of Spelling

Correct spelling is essential for clear written communication. Inaccurate spelling can change the meaning of a word, cause confusion, and make writing appear unprofessional. Many competitive exams and language proficiency tests include questions on identifying correct and incorrect spellings.

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2. Common Types of Spelling Questions

• Identify the correctly/incorrectly spelled word:
  Given a list of words, select the one that is spelled incorrectly or correctly.

• Spot the error in a sentence:
  Find the word in a sentence that is misspelled.

• Fill in the blank with the correct spelling:
  Choose the right spelling for a word used in context.

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3. Common Spelling Rules

A. I before E except after C

• Rule: “i” comes before “e” except after “c” (when the sound is ‘ee’).

  • Examples: believe, field, piece

  • Exceptions: receive, ceiling, deceive

B. Doubling the Final Consonant

• If a word ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the consonant before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.

  • Examples: run → running, sit → sitting, begin → beginning

C. Dropping the Final ‘e’

• Drop the final ‘e’ when adding a suffix that starts with a vowel.

  • Examples: make → making, hope → hoping, use → using

D. Plurals

• Most nouns: add “s” (cat → cats)

• Ends with s, x, z, ch, sh: add “es” (box → boxes)

• Ends with consonant + y: change “y” to “i” and add “es” (baby → babies)

• Ends with f/fe: change to “ves” (leaf → leaves, wife → wives)

E. Changing “y” to “i”

• When adding a suffix to a word ending in “y” preceded by a consonant, change “y” to “i.”

  • Examples: happy → happiness, carry → carried

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4. Frequently Confused Spellings

• Accommodation (not accomodation)

• Separate (not seperate)

• Definitely (not definately)

• Occurrence (not occurance)

• Necessary (not neccessary)

• Committee (not commitee)

• Receive (not recieve)

• Embarrass (not embarass)

• Privilege (not privelege)

• Maintenance (not maintainance)

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5. British vs. American Spellings

• Colour (UK) vs. Color (US)

• Travelling (UK) vs. Traveling (US)

• Centre (UK) vs. Center (US)

• Organise (UK) vs. Organize (US)

Know which variant is required for your exam or context.

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6. Tips for Mastering Spelling

• Read regularly: Exposure to correct spelling in books, articles, and newspapers helps reinforce memory.

• Practice commonly misspelled words: Make a list and test yourself.

• Break words into syllables: Helps with longer words (e.g., ac-com-mo-da-tion).

• Use mnemonics: Create memory aids (e.g., “necessary has one collar and two sleeves” for “c” and “s”).

• Write and revise: Practice spelling words by writing them out.

• Learn root words, prefixes, and suffixes: These can help you deduce the spelling of complex words.

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7. Practice Strategies

• Spot the error: Practice with lists where one word is misspelled.

• Dictation: Listen and write words to reinforce correct spelling.

• Flashcards: Use them for frequent trouble words.

• Peer testing: Quiz each other on difficult spellings.

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8. Sample Practice

Choose the correctly spelled word:
(a) Recieve (b) Receive (c) Recive (d) Receeve
Answer: (b) Receive

Spot the incorrect spelling:
(a) Occurrence (b) Accommodate (c) Seperate (d) Privilege
Answer: (c) Seperate (should be Separate)

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9. Commonly Misspelled Words List

• Achievement

• Address

• Beginning

• Calendar

• Commitment

• Discipline

• Environment

• Government

• Independent

• Intelligence

• Library

• Millennium

• Opportunity

• Questionnaire

• Recommend

• Restaurant

• Rhythm

• Schedule

• Tomorrow

• Vacuum

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10. Summary Table: Key Spelling Rules

Rule	Example (Correct)	Example (Incorrect)
i before e except after c	Believe, Receive	Recieve
Double consonant for -ing	Running	Runing
Drop final e before vowel	Making	Makeing
Change y to i	Happiness	Happyiness
Plural rules	Babies, Leaves	Babys, Leafs

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Summary:
Mastering spelling requires regular reading, practice, and awareness of common rules and exceptions. Focus on frequently confused words, use memory aids, and test yourself regularly to improve accuracy and confidence in spelling.

Spelling Practice Questions

1. (A) Accommodation (B) Occurrence (C) Seperate (D) Privilege

2. (A) Definitely (B) Receive (C) Recommend (D) Recieve

3. (A) Committee (B) Embarrass (C) Calender (D) Necessary

4. (A) Maintenance (B) Achievment (C) Achievement (D) Independent

5. (A) Government (B) Enviroment (C) Intelligence (D) Millennium

6. (A) Opportunity (B) Questionnaire (C) Restaurant (D) Restuarant

7. (A) Rhythm (B) Vacuum (C) Tommorow (D) Schedule

8. (A) Address (B) Beginning (C) Calender (D) Calendar

9. (A) Discipline (B) Occurence (C) Library (D) Separate

10. (A) Occurrence (B) Accommodate (C) Seperate (D) Privilege

11. (A) Receive (B) Achievement (C) Embarras (D) Restaurant

12. (A) Privilege (B) Committee (C) Independant (D) Government

13. (A) Recommend (B) Questionnaire (C) Millenium (D) Opportunity

14. (A) Rhythm (B) Vacuum (C) Schedule (D) Tomorow

15. (A) Maintenance (B) Achievment (C) Calendar (D) Address

16. (A) Beginning (B) Discipline (C) Enviroment (D) Intelligence

17. (A) Occurrence (B) Accommodate (C) Separate (D) Restuarant

18. (A) Embarrass (B) Calender (C) Privilege (D) Library

19. (A) Government (B) Millennium (C) Questionnaire (D) Restuarant

20. (A) Restaurant (B) Rhythm (C) Schedule (D) Tommorow

21. (A) Address (B) Achievment (C) Calendar (D) Discipline

22. (A) Embarrass (B) Occurrence (C) Accommodate (D) Independant

23. (A) Separate (B) Recommend (C) Privilege (D) Calender

24. (A) Intelligence (B) Millennium (C) Questionnaire (D) Enviroment

25. (A) Opportunity (B) Restaurant (C) Tomorow (D) Vacuum

26. (A) Environment (B) Occurrence (C) Accomodate (D) Library

27. (A) Schedule (B) Rhythm (C) Tommorow (D) Address

28. (A) Beginning (B) Calender (C) Government (D) Privilege

29. (A) Millennium (B) Achievment (C) Questionnaire (D) Separate

30. (A) Discipline (B) Restaurant (C) Embarras (D) Calendar

31. (A) Recommend (B) Intelligence (C) Enviroment (D) Opportunity

32. (A) Accommodate (B) Occurrence (C) Calender (D) Privilege

33. (A) Millennium (B) Rhythm (C) Tommorow (D) Address

34. (A) Achievment (B) Committee (C) Government (D) Schedule

35. (A) Embarrass (B) Calender (C) Restaurant (D) Separate

36. (A) Questionnaire (B) Privilege (C) Independant (D) Calendar

37. (A) Beginning (B) Discipline (C) Occurence (D) Library

38. (A) Opportunity (B) Millennium (C) Tomorow (D) Rhythm

39. (A) Schedule (B) Recommend (C) Accomodate (D) Address

40. (A) Restaurant (B) Occurrence (C) Embarrass (D) Achievment

41. (A) Calendar (B) Intelligence (C) Enviroment (D) Privilege

42. (A) Committee (B) Millennium (C) Questionnaire (D) Calender

43. (A) Separate (B) Government (C) Restuarant (D) Rhythm

44. (A) Address (B) Achievment (C) Beginning (D) Discipline

45. (A) Embarrass (B) Opportunity (C) Tommorow (D) Restaurant

46. (A) Schedule (B) Recommend (C) Occurrence (D) Enviroment

47. (A) Accommodate (B) Privilege (C) Calender (D) Library

48. (A) Millennium (B) Intelligence (C) Restaurant (D) Achievment

49. (A) Separate (B) Government (C) Calender (D) Rhythm

50. (A) Address (B) Questionnaire (C) Embarras (D) Calendar