15+
Essential Rules
85%
Words Covered
5
Key Patterns
250K+
English Words
8 Essential Spelling Rules
These foundational rules govern the vast majority of English spelling patterns. Master them and you can spell most words correctly.
Silent-E Rule
Adding e to the end makes the vowel say its name: hop becomes hope, kit becomes kite, cub becomes cube.
Doubling Consonants
Double the final consonant before -ing or -ed when a short vowel precedes it: run/running, stop/stopped.
I-Before-E
I before E, except after C, or when sounding like "ay" as in neighbor and weigh.
Drop the E
Remove the silent e before adding a vowel suffix: make/making, hope/hoping, write/writing.
Change Y to I
When a consonant comes before y, change y to i before adding a suffix: happy/happiness, carry/carried.
Plurals: -S vs -ES
Add -es after s, x, z, ch, sh (buses, boxes, watches). Most other nouns just add -s.
-FUL vs -FULLY
The suffix -ful has only one L (beautiful, grateful). Add -ly to make the adverb: beautifully, gratefully.
-ABLE vs -IBLE
Use -able with complete root words (enjoyable, breakable). Use -ible with incomplete roots (visible, possible).
Rules at a Glance
Every rule, its examples, and the exceptions you need to watch out for.
| Rule | Description | Examples | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent-E | E at the end makes the vowel long | hope, kite, cube, lane, tube | have, give, love, come |
| Doubling | CVC + vowel suffix = double consonant | running, stopped, sitting, planned | opening, visiting, boxing |
| I before E | I before E except after C | believe, field, receive, ceiling | weird, seize, their, protein |
| Drop E | Remove silent E before vowel suffix | making, hoping, writing, baking | noticeable, courageous |
| Y to I | Change Y to I after consonant + suffix | happiness, carried, babies, studies | playing, enjoyed, keys |
| Plurals | Add -ES after s, x, z, ch, sh | buses, boxes, watches, dishes | pianos, photos, zeroes/zeros |
| -FUL/-FULLY | -FUL has one L; add -LY for adverb | beautiful, beautifully, hopeful | full (standalone has two Ls) |
| -ABLE/-IBLE | -ABLE with full roots, -IBLE with Latin | enjoyable, visible, breakable | flexible, responsible |
Memory Tricks That Stick
These classic mnemonics turn tricky spellings into unforgettable sentences.
"Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants"
Spells B-E-C-A-U-S-E
"A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream"
Spells A-R-I-T-H-M-E-T-I-C
"George's Elderly Old Grandfather Rode A Pig Home Yesterday"
Spells G-E-O-G-R-A-P-H-Y
"Not Every Cat Eats Sardines (Some Are Really Yummy)"
Spells N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-Y
"Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move"
Spells R-H-Y-T-H-M
How EZSpell Teaches Spelling Rules
AI Rule Explanation
Our AI tutor explains each rule in plain language, generates custom examples at your level, and quizzes you on exceptions.
Targeted Practice
The adaptive engine detects which rules you struggle with and creates focused practice sessions until the pattern is automatic.
Mastery Tracking
Visual dashboards show rule-by-rule mastery percentages so students, parents, and teachers always know what to focus on next.