Some spelling tips

English can be baffling indeed.

By JACQUELINE A. RANKIN
bookshelves 888 (photo credit: )
bookshelves 888
(photo credit: )
Today’s column involves a brief grammar lesson we all fear: spelling.  Some spellings mystify us and we have to memorize them; some spellings go along with their pronunciations and enchant our ear; and some spellings have historical context. So, English can be baffling indeed. But, I believe, you must be able to correctly spell, pronounce and define a word to make it part of your working vocabulary.
Look at the following list and identify the incorrect spellings. Write corrections at the side.
Correct answers at end of article but no fair peeking!
1. decieve __________2. indivisible __________3. Febuary __________4. sacrafice __________5. symtom __________6. Artic __________7. catastrofe __________8. obiterary __________9. candadate __________10. illiterite __________
SPELLING TIPS:
 Figure out what words give you a hard time and write them (correctly)on flash cards or in a small notebook. Break the words into smallerparts and sound them out correctly. Learn the definition of the word.Let the dictionary help you and don’t be afraid to look up words morethan once. Take those flash cards or notebook with you wherever you goand glance at them occasionally to pound them into your head. Practicesaying them several times a day and try to use them in conversations.In other words, get used to them in every way possible. It helps whenyou have someone to converse with who will interchange with you whilepracticing the words.
A precept about saying that word aloud. First, correct pronunciationgives you a guide to correct spelling, so use that dictionary if youare in doubt about saying the word aloud. You will note that there aredistinct differences between American and British spellings andpronunciations. I’m an American so I teach good old American, but I’llnever forget the mark I received for writing “labour” on a history examas a freshman in college. As I said, I’m an American and the word is“labor.”
Prefixes and suffixes can give us trouble. The pre- is a front bumperand the suff- is the end. Today words with prefixes and suffixes, withfew exceptions, are spelled solid whether they are nouns, verbs,adjectives or adverbs. 
The Rule for Prefixes:
Do not add or omit a letter when you attach a prefix.  Keep all the letters – yes, every one of them:
mis + spell = misspell
re + election = reelection
un + hinge = unhinge
un  + happy = unhappy
inter + related = interrelated
drunken + ly = drunkenly
foresee + able = foreseeable
dis + satisfied = dissatisfied
Some common prefixes are anti (antiwar), bi (bilingual), co (coauthor),counter (counterclockwise), extra (extraordinary) and inter(internecine).  Some common suffixes are ment (excitement), able(washable) and ful (careful). 
The Rule for Suffixes:
 Keep all the letters when you add a suffix – unless the word ends in a y or a silent e. 
drunken + ness = drunkenness
ski + ing = skiing
ache + ing = aching  (silent e)
type + ing = typing   (silent e)
1. If the letter before the final y is a consonant, change the y to i and add the suffix thusly:
worry + ed = worried
hungry + ly = hungrily
2. If the letter before the final y is a vowel, do not change the y before attaching a suffix.
play +  ing = playing
bury + ing = burying
Would you like to have additional lessons on spelling?  If so, let the editor of this paper know and I will try to oblige.
The writer is an author, teacher and body language expert living in the US.