TACHS: Spelling: check each word against its pattern
Use a handful of spelling patterns to catch a misspelled word in a set of lines, and to trust hard words that are spelled correctly.
How do I find a misspelled word without assuming the longest word is the wrong one?
Short answer
Read one word at a time, build each tricky word from its base and suffix, and check it against the common patterns. If every word passes, choose No error.
Know first: Prefixes and suffixes such as *-ing, -ment* and *-ly*
Step 1 of 5
Most spelling errors follow a pattern
Spelling errors on the test are believable mistakes: an extra e, a missing letter, a doubled letter where one belongs, or a letter swapped for one that sounds the same.
The lines also include long words that look hard but are spelled correctly. Your job is to check each word calmly, not to pick the one that looks most difficult.
| Pattern | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Silent e + vowel suffix | Drop the e | hope, hoping; arrange, arranging |
| Silent e + consonant suffix | Keep the e | place, placement; care, careful |
| Common exceptions | The e drops anyway | argue, argument; true, truly; judge, judgment |
| Short vowel + one consonant | Double before -ing, -ed | plan, planned; begin, beginning |
| Consonant + y | Change y to i, except before -ing | busy, business; carry, carried, carrying |
| Adding -ly | Keep every letter of the base | final, finally; definite, definitely |
Step 2 of 5
Split the suspicious words
Worked example: A tournament plan
Which line contains an error in standard written English? Choose No error if all three lines are correct.
Line 1: The coach made a definite plan for the tournament.
Line 2: Her assistant was in charge of arrangeing the buses.
Line 3: The players were grateful for the careful planning.
- ALine 1
- BLine 2
- CLine 3
- DNo error
- 1
Line 1
Definite is de + finite. Correct.
- 2
Line 2
Arrange + ing: the suffix starts with a vowel, so the silent e drops. The word should be arranging. This is the error.
- 3
Line 3
Grateful has no great in it. Careful keeps its e before a consonant suffix. Planning doubles the n after a short vowel. All correct.
- 4
See why the other choices are there
Grateful and planning are words many students misspell, so they draw suspicion even though they are correct here. No error tempts anyone who reads arrangeing too quickly.
Answer
Line 2. The correct spelling is arranging.
Wrong: We were hopping for good weather on Saturday.
Right: We were hoping for good weather on Saturday.
Hope drops its e before -ing and does not double the p. Hopping is a real word, but it means jumping, so it is wrong here.
Step 3 of 5
Check every word, then decide
Check yourself · Question 1
Which line contains an error in standard written English? Choose No error if all three lines are correct.
Line 1: The museum guide gave an excellent explanation of the exhibit.
Line 2: She answered our questions with obvious enthusiasm.
Line 3: Our class was definitly impressed by the dinosaur skeleton.
Answer: C
Definite + ly keeps every letter of the base: definitely. The e before -ly is missing.
Trap answer: Line 1
Hard-looking words that are correct
- Why it looks right
- Excellent explanation has double letters and an x in each word, so it looks like a place for a mistake.
- Why it's wrong
- Both words are spelled correctly. A word that looks hard is not the same as a word that is wrong.
- The right answer
- Line 3, where definitly is missing the e from definite.
Check yourself · Question 2
Which line contains an error in standard written English? Choose No error if all three lines are correct.
Line 1: The beginning of the play was a little slow.
Line 2: By the second act, the audience was completely absorbed.
Line 3: Afterward, the actors seemed cheerful and relieved.
Answer: D
Beginning doubles the n, completely keeps the e before -ly, and relieved follows i before e. Every word is correct.
Common mistake
Picking the line with the longest or least familiar word.
- Why it's tempting
- Long words feel like the place a test would hide a misspelling.
- Do this instead
- Test hard words against a pattern. If they pass, move on, and look just as closely at short, everyday words.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Read one word at a time and split suspicious words into base and suffix.
- Drop a silent e before a vowel suffix, keep it before a consonant suffix, and keep every letter before -ly.
- Hard-looking words are often correct. If every word passes, choose No error.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
Try another one
In your own words
In the practice question, which word looked the hardest, and what pattern or base word helped you decide it was spelled correctly?