Spelling Tips

There are many different methods of learning spellings. You need to find the method(s) that suit you best. Listed below are some ideas that may help you remember how to spell different words. Spelling is primarily a visual / motor activity and to spell correctly, you will usually need a visual image of the word, plus practice at writing the word to reinforce your motor memory. Relying on sounding out words is not always the best strategy, as many words in the English language are not written as they sound. When trying to remember a word, you need to look with interest and the intention of remembering it. Merely copying words doesnt always help you to learn! Your motor memory is very powerful and it is very difficult to unlearn a word you have been miswriting because your hand may continue to write the word incorrectly because it feels right. Method 1 Look, Say, Cover, Say, Write, Check (LSCSWC) Use as many senses as you can

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Look

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at the word, noting any parts that are particularly difficult

Say the word aloud. Close your eyes and try to see it in the minds eye. Cover Write Check the word and remind yourself how to remember it. the word, saying it as you write it. the word, letter by letter, to see if you have written it correctly. Pay attention to any mistakes. Rewrite the whole word correctly to reinforce your motor memory.

Keep practicing a few words each day.

Method 2 Reinforce the Visual Image Break difficult words up, by using space and/or a coloured highlighter, put a box around the part of the word you find difficult or change the look of the word: e.g. obv iou sly dec / ide de ci de

Write the word in a coloured pen and then look up and to the left and try to visualise the word in your minds eye. Or Illustrate words Design a picture around the difficult part of a spelling. e.g. Draw a picture of a parachute around the "para" in se para te. Method 3 Count the Syllables Chop up longer words into syllables. To work out how many syllables in a particular word, try singing it and see how many notes you need, or place your hand gently under your chin, how many times does your chin hit your hand. A syllable is a part of a word with one vowel sound or beat. e.g. spelling has 2 syllables: spell and ing. submarine has 3 syllables: sub and mar and ine. helicopter has 4 syllables: hel and i and cop and ter. Method 4 Deconstruction Break the word down into blocks and complete the partial word several times, taking out more and more letters each time. e.g. aristocracy ___stocracy ______cracy ________cy __________

Method 5 Use a Mnemonics The word mnemonic is from the Greek word mneme to remember. A mnemonic is any technique that aids or jogs memory. Try to link some words to images the ruder or funnier the better! e.g. believe never believe a lie business: there is a bus in business.. necessary: it is necessary to have one collar and two socks embarrassing: embarrassing has two rosy cheeks and two scarlet cheeks. secretary: a secretary must keep a secret. Method 6 Use Acronyms Make up phrases or short sentences for words you find hard to remember. e.g. radar: laser: rhythm: radio detection and ranging light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation rhythm helps your two hips move

Method 7 Exaggerate Pronunciation of Words e.g. be / ca / use for because we / at / her for weather Make up your own spelling pronunciation for a word that will remind you of what a word looks like. Method 8 Look at the Structure / Derivation of Words The spelling of the prefix, suffix and root word usually stays the same. Root words Suffixes / prefixes e.g. sign, happy e.g. signal, signature e.g. unhappy, happiness

Derivation of words where does the word come from? e.g. Television: tele means over a distance visio means sight (Latin)

Method 9 Use a Dictionary

Dictionaries are useful for when you are making minor spelling errors but often, if you cant spell the beginning of the word, finding it in a dictionary may take some time. Method 10 Personal Spelling Dictionary Keep an alphabetical notebook that lists any words you find difficult to spell or need to use frequently. This is particularly useful for subject specific vocabulary. Method 11 Find Words Within Words Use the smaller words to help you remember the longer words. e.g. Capacity Football Forgotten Method 12 Rules There are many books available identifying the common spelling rules. However, every rule has exceptions. Here are a few useful rules: 1. When you add "all" to the beginning of a word, use one "l" e.g. although, also, always, almost 2. When you add "full" to the end of a word, use one "l" e.g. wonderful, faithful, hateful, useful 3. You only ever add "ly" to the end of a word, not "lly". e.g. poor - poorly 4. Exception: If the word ends in "l" to start with, you finish up with "lly" e.g. faithful faithfully, careful carefully. 5. Words ending in "e" often lose the "e" before a suffix that starts with a vowel e.g. believe believable, expense expensive, hope hoping 6. Exceptions some words ending in ce or ge keep the "e" before ous and able e.g. notice noticeable, courage - courageous cap a city foot ball for got ten