Slide 1:chomp! chomp! This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2008 by Robin L. Simmons.


Spelling :Spelling I before E? Or is it E before I?


Slide 3:This presentation covers commonly misspelled words and knowledge of spelling rules—all of which, unfortunately, have exceptions!


Spelling items on an objective test might look like these . . . :Spelling items on an objective test might look like these . . .


Sample Item 1 :Sample Item 1 Because we were hungary, we could not concentrate on the lecture. We will definitely consult Wanda since she was fueling her brain with a fruit smoothie. hungry definately feuling No change is necessary. Because we were hungary, we could not A concentrate on the lecture. We will definitely B consult Wanda since she was fueling her brain C with a fruit smoothie. hungry definately feuling No change is necessary. Because we were hungry, we could not A concentrate on the lecture. We will definitely B consult Wanda since she was fueling her brain C with a fruit smoothie. hungry definately feuling No change is necessary. Is hungary, definitely, or fueling misspelled? Hungry is definitely misspelled, but choice A corrects it!


Sample Item 2 :Sample Item 2 At the flea market, Harold bought fresh tomatoes, a pair of used jeans, and a stuffed deer head with a broken antler. He considered the shopping trip successfull. succesful successful sucessful No change is necessary. At the flea market, Harold bought fresh tomatoes, a pair of used jeans, and a stuffed deer head with a broken antler. He considered the shopping trip successfull. succesful successful sucessful No change is necessary. Is successfull misspelled? Which choice corrects it? Choice B does the job—two cs, two ss, but only one l.


At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary! :At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary! X


When in doubt, rely on “gut” feelings. :When in doubt, rely on “gut” feelings. Your eyes have seen in print — and your brain has registered — all of the possible words that you will encounter for this skill. If you don’t recognize the right answer, go with the one that feels right. Hey, I know that word!


Plurals, Part 1 :Plurals, Part 1 To finish his algebra problem, Chad needed to find his glass. Most words become plural by adding s: chickenchickens, bookbooks, kitekites Use es for words ending in s, sh, x, z, or “soft” ch: beachbeaches, fixfixes, quizquizzes To finish his algebra problems, Chad needed to find his glasses. Do you like my funky lenses?


Plurals, Part 2 :Plurals, Part 2 Our ears were glued to the radio as we listened to news about the tornado. Words ending in a vowel + o become plural by adding s: rodeorodeos, duoduos Words ending in a consonant + o become plural by adding es: tomatotomatoes, heroheroes Take cover! Our ears were glued to the radios as we listened to news about the tornadoes.


Plurals, Part 3 :Plurals, Part 3 Our life would improve if the giraffs quit eating the leafs off our shrubs. Many words that end in f or fe become plural with ves: leafleaves, lifelives, knifeknives Words that end in ff or ffe become plural with just an s: knockoffknockoffs, giraffegiraffes Our lives would improve if the giraffes quit eating the leaves off our shrubs. Stop that!


Final Y Words :Final Y Words Chad tryed to save his money, but the flea market had too many good buy. If you have consonant + final y, change the y to i when you add any suffix except one beginning with i: easyeasily, fiftyfiftieth, skyskies If you have vowel + final y, keep the y when you add a suffix: monkeymonkeys, toytoys Chad tried to save his money, but the flea market had too many good buys. I’m a sucker for “Buy 3, Get 1 Free”!


Final E Words :Final E Words Climbing to the top of the mountain was too challengeing, so we gave up and wallowed in discouragment. If a suffix begins with a vowel, you will usually remove the final e: hopehoping, loveloving, participateparticipating If a suffix begins with a consonant, you will usually keep the final e: lovelovely, amuseamusement, hopehopeful Climbing to the top of the mountain was too challenging, so we gave up and wallowed in discouragement. We were so close!


Doubling Final Consonants :Doubling Final Consonants If you have a one-syllable word that ends in vowel + consonant, double the consonant when you add a suffix that begins with a vowel or is a y: sadsaddened, swimswimming, skinskinny If you have a multi-syllable word that ends in vowel + consonant — with the accent falling on the last syllable of the root word — double the consonant: admitadmitted, beginbeginner, forbidforbidding


Read this sample: :Read this sample: Chad steped in a puddle and sliped off the sidewalk. He regreted his clumsiness when he spoted the mud stain on his pants. Chad stepped in a puddle and slipped off the sidewalk. He regretted his clumsiness when he spotted the mud stain on his pants. W h o a !


IE/EI Words :IE/EI Words Chad is concieted about the bulging viens in his rippling muscles. He beleives that all of the females are admiring his great physique. Often, i comes before e: belief, chief, review If the i and e follow c, they usually reverse: cei ling, concei ve, recei ve E also precedes i if the sound is a long a: ei ght, nei ghbor, wei gh Chad is conceited about the bulging veins in his rippling muscles. He believes that all of the females are admiring his great physique. Let me flex my biceps!


Quick Test :Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.” Show me what you know!


Item 1 :Item 1 Carlos hopped that he caught all of the misspellings in his essay, for he wanted to receive an A on this paper. hoped mispellings recieve No change is necessary. Carlos hopped that he caught all of the A misspellings in his essay, for he wanted to B receive an A on this paper. C hoped mispellings recieve No change is necessary. Carlos hoped that he caught all of the A misspellings in his essay, for he wanted to B receive an A on this paper. C hoped mispellings recieve No change is necessary.


Item 2 :Item 2 The thieves planned to steal Mom’s expensive jewellry but changed their minds when they discovered Big Boy, our Rottweiler, guarding the master bedroom. theives jewelry guardding No change is necessary. The thieves planned to steal Mom’s expensive A jewellry but changed their minds when they B discovered Big Boy, our Rottweiler, guarding the C master bedroom. theives jewelry guardding No change is necessary. The thieves planned to steal Mom’s expensive A jewelry but changed their minds when they B discovered Big Boy, our Rottweiler, guarding the C master bedroom. theives jewelry guardding No change is necessary.


Item 3 :Item 3 When we told Sheila that her boyfriend Ronnie accompanied Kristine to a fancy restaurant last night, Sheila told us to mind our own bussiness. accompanyed resterant business No change is necessary. When we told Sheila that her boyfriend Ronnie accompanied Kristine to a fancy restaurant last A B night, Sheila told us to mind our own bussiness. C accompanyed resterant business No change is necessary. When we told Sheila that her boyfriend Ronnie accompanied Kristine to a fancy restaurant last A B night, Sheila told us to mind our own business. C accompanyed resterant business No change is necessary.


Item 4 :Item 4 I don’t mind sharing a dessert with Matthew, but I must insist on a sepparate fork. separate seperate saperate No change is necessary. I don’t mind sharing a dessert with Matthew, but I must insist on a sepparate fork. separate seperate saperate No change is necessary. I don’t mind sharing a dessert with Matthew, but I must insist on a sepparate fork. separate seperate saperate No change is necessary.


Item 5 :Item 5 Professor Williams recommends studing two hours every night; we students wish we had the time but must work to pay for the expensive textbooks that he requires. reccomends studying espensive No change is necessary. Professor Williams recommends studing two A B hours every night; we students wish we had the time but must work to pay for the expensive C textbooks that he requires. reccomends studying espensive No change is necessary. Professor Williams recommends studying two A B hours every night; we students wish we had the time but must work to pay for the expensive C textbooks that he requires. reccomends studying espensive No change is necessary.


Item 6 :Item 6 All day long, our new puppy Jack sleeps on the rug, but at night, he is possesed by energy and bounces off the furniture. posessed possested possessed No change is necessary. All day long, our new puppy Jack sleeps on the rug, but at night, he is possesed by energy and bounces off the furniture. posessed possested possessed No change is necessary. All day long, our new puppy Jack sleeps on the rug, but at night, he is possesed by energy and bounces off the furniture. posessed possested possessed No change is necessary.


Item 7 :Item 7 Ramón wishs that the lovely Belinda would blow kisses his way, but he is always disappointed. wishes kissess dissappointed No change is necessary. Ramón wishs that the lovely Belinda would blow A kisses his way, but he is always disappointed. B C wishes kissess dissappointed No change is necessary. Ramón wishes that the lovely Belinda would blow A kisses his way, but he is always disappointed. B C wishes kissess dissappointed No change is necessary.


Item 8 :Item 8 To please his wife, Robert swept off the roof, even though he found this chore pointless and unnecessary. unecessary unnecessery unneccessary No change is necessary. To please his wife, Robert swept off the roof, even though he found this chore pointless and unnecessary. unecessary unnecessery unneccessary No change is necessary. To please his wife, Robert swept off the roof, even though he found this chore pointless and unnecessary. unecessary unnecessery unneccessary No change is necessary.


Item 9 :Item 9 Patrick tried to make Babushka’s potatoe pancakes, but we found them inedible; everyone wished he had made simple French fries instead. potato ineddible frys No change is necessary. Patrick tried to make Babushka’s potatoe A pancakes, but we found them inedible; everyone B wished he had made simple French fries instead. C potato ineddible frys No change is necessary. Patrick tried to make Babushka’s potato A pancakes, but we found them inedible; everyone B wished he had made simple French fries instead. C potato ineddible frys No change is necessary.


Item 10 :Item 10 Look at Jonathan’s face turning red—that boy embarasses easily! embarrases emmbarasses embarrasses No change is necessary. Look at Jonathan’s face turning red—that boy embarasses easily! embarrases emmbarasses embarrasses No change is necessary. Look at Jonathan’s face turning red—that boy embarasses easily! embarrases emmbarasses embarrasses No change is necessary.


Slide 28:The End.