how to spell: drop the 'e' spelling rule

Check out my free Spelling Tips at howtospell.co.uk/spelling.php spelling tips video on drop the 'e' rule. This is a great little rule but be warned like all English spelling rules there are exceptions. So basically, we drop the 'e' when we add a vowel suffix to the root word -- whoah that was technical! Do you know what a suffix, vowel root word is? A suffix is a little word we put on ends of words like --s ing, er, est, tion, ment to change the meaning write -- writer, have having.

Vowels are a.e.i.o.u. So vowel suffixes are -- ing, ed, er, est, ation...

We put these on a root word or base word to change the meaning. Write -- writer / writeable
writing, sense + ible = sensible, use + ed used, make + er maker...

drop the 'e' with ing is the most common spelling and it rhymes
writing, coming, having, loving, making...

Other vowel suffixes with drop the 'e' rule
opposite + -ion = opposition imagine + -ation imagination
white + -est whitest race + -ist racist behave + -iour = behaviour

Unfortunately like I said there are exceptions to this rule.

Some words have two possible spellings with --able
Keep the 'e' or drop the 'e'
likeable/likable moveable/ movable loveable/lovable useable/usable

Also words ending in 'ge' keep the 'e' before able to keep the soft 'ge' sound: manageable/changeable/ salvageable/gaugeable

Another exception to the rule is the final 'e' is not dropped from words ending in -ee, -oe, -ye, seeing, agreeing, canoeist, dyeing.

So drop the 'e' is a good rule with exceptions. Good spellers usually see what looks right -- so keep practicing and using the words.

The great news is that spelling can be learnt.

As soon as you understand why English is the way it is and start taking an interest in words, know the history, see the patterns and rules you'll start to love spelling and this series of Spelling Tips videos will help you do just that -- with the added bonus of improving your confidence and writing.

Remember - The only way to learn spelling is to practise. You have to write, do exercises, games, anything to keep using the spellings.

Don't let your lack of confidence in spelling put you off writing.


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Writing's for all of us. And it really helps your spelling.

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Go to my website www.howtospell.co.uk and there you can improve your spelling by doing the quizzes and games, click on my blog and do the spelling test podcasts - there's a spelling test for this rule.

Thanks for watching.