| Spelling in English is hard even for those of us | | | | of word puzzles in bookstores and on-line. You |
| who have been practicing for years! For one thing | | | | can also search the Internet using keywords like |
| there are so many exceptions to the rules. The | | | | “word search”, |
| English language actually has two basic types of | | | | “crosswords”, “word |
| words – words which are original to English | | | | games”, and “word puzzles” |
| and those adopted from other languages. Words | | | | to find more websites which offer games to play. |
| which are original to English follow a few simple | | | | Practice spelling daily. Like so many skills in life, the |
| rules and are generally spelled as they sound. | | | | more you practice the skill, the better you |
| Words adopted from other languages go through | | | | become at doing it. Spelling is no different. One |
| a process called transliteration. Sounds from the | | | | way to do this is to post a new word on your |
| foreign language will be represented by the English | | | | mirror each day. Study it when you are brushing |
| alphabet. Each language from which words have | | | | your teeth. Then jot it down on a slip of paper |
| been adopted gets its own set of rules for how | | | | and put it in your wallet. Pull out your slip of paper |
| the sounds in that language will be represented in | | | | while you are riding the bus or waiting in a line. |
| English. Since the English language has adopted | | | | Practice saying the word to yourself and then |
| words from many other languages, this can make | | | | spelling it. Devoting some of your time to learning |
| for a very challenging number of spelling rules. | | | | to spell will improve your spelling. |
| Nevertheless, there are some techniques you can | | | | Get a spelling practice book. Since spelling is a |
| use to increase your spelling accuracy. If you | | | | known hazard in writing English, there are lots of |
| apply these tips you will improve your spelling and, | | | | practice books available to help you learn the |
| therefore, your ability to communicate in English. | | | | spelling rules and practice the most commonly |
| Really look at a word. When you encounter a new | | | | misspelled words. You can find these books in |
| word or one you know you have trouble spelling, | | | | your library and at bookstores. Just ask the |
| take the time to really look at the word closely. | | | | reference librarian or bookseller to help you find |
| Try breaking the word into syllables and then | | | | them. |
| imagine stringing them together like pearls to | | | | Keep a spelling list. Everyone has words which are |
| form the word. Take time to write the word on | | | | just plain troublesome. Every time you spell the |
| a scrap of paper, checking the spelling as you go | | | | word, it is wrong. When you find you are |
| against the correctly spelled word. Studying words | | | | repeatedly having trouble with a particular word, |
| in this way imprints an image of the word in your | | | | add it to your spelling list. Keep this list in a small |
| brain which you will use later when you write the | | | | notebook or your iPod. Refer to your list when |
| word again. The more times you see the word | | | | you need to use the word and that way you will |
| correctly spelled, the more likely it is that you will | | | | spell it correctly each time. |
| be able to spell the word correctly when needed. | | | | Turn on “spell check”. Spell check |
| Sound it out. Although it is true that English words | | | | functions in word processing and e-mail programs |
| are not necessarily spelled the way they sound, | | | | will catch many bad spellings, so it makes sense |
| many, many English words are. Say the word | | | | to use this line of defense against poor spelling. |
| carefully and write down the letters which go with | | | | However, having said that, I need to give a word |
| the sounds. The majority of the most commonly | | | | of caution as well. Spell checkers rely on |
| used words in English are phonetically spelled. | | | | dictionaries supplied by the program. Often these |
| You’ll be glad to know that spelling | | | | dictionaries are short versions so they do not |
| champions use this technique when faced with a | | | | contain many words. You might get an error |
| challenging word! | | | | message about a word when there is no problem |
| Play word games. All types of word games and | | | | what so ever with the word. Pull out a more |
| puzzles can help you learn to spell. “Word | | | | extensive dictionary to check your spelling if you |
| searches”, also called “word | | | | know the word exists. |
| finds”, help you learn the common spelling | | | | By practicing these techniques, you should see a |
| patterns. Crossword puzzles and scrabble rely on | | | | big improvement in your ability to spell English |
| correct spelling for solutions. You can find books | | | | words correctly. |