Keys to Good Spelling
7th Grade Spelling List Spelling Rules
1. Realize that when two words are compounded (put together as one), the spelling of the two parts does not change.
ear + ring = earring lamp + post = lamppost
2. Realize that when a prefix is added to a word, the spelling of the word itself does not change.
il + legal = illegal dis + satisfied = dissatisfied
3. Learn and apply the Spelling Rules. (Click on the link above to go to the Spelling Rules page).
4. Spell by syllables and say the word aloud or in your mind as the word will be written, not as it may be pronounced. For example, the word Wednesday is pronounced something like "Wenzdi"; but if you pronounce the word as it will be written, you will pronounce it "Wed-nes-day." Put this principle into practice like this:
a. While looking steadfastly at the word, say the word aloud or in your head syllable by syllable. For example, for the word consolidated, say "con-sol-i-da-ted.
b. Look away from the word and write "con-sol-i-da-ted," saying and then writing one syllable at a time, of course connecting the syllables as you write them.
c. Look back at the word that you have written and compare it syllable by syllable to the word in your book.
d. If you made a mistake in the spelling, repeat the process described in a through c above until you can spell the word correctly.
Certain words are difficult to say as written. For these words, you must be careful to see the letters in the word that are difficult to say, for example, the k in knit and the tion in intention. If you can see the k in knit, you can just say nit, instead of k-nit. If you can see the tion in intention, you can just say tion ("shun") instead of ti-on. Also, some words have a sound that can be pronounced more than one way, for example the first c in catch. In order to spell the word correctly with a c and not a k, you must be careful to see the c and then your brain will remember the correct letter.
5. Learn to distinguish between homophones. (A homophone is one of two or more words that have the same sound but differ in spelling, origin, and meaning.) In order to spell these words correctly, you simply have to memorize their variant spellings and meanings. Here are some examples of homophones:
aid/aide council/counsel threw/through
ball/bawl die/dye tow/tow
bare/bear feat/feet vain/vein
bough/bow heal/heel waist/waste
bridal/bridle mail/male whose/who's
6. Learn lists of commonly misspelled words. (See the lists of such words in this book.)