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       "How do you spell ________?"
               
               Easily Confused Words
                  Frequently Misspelled Words 

1. Under the heading: How do you spell_______?, write out in your book, the first three spelling rules and examples given below.

1. This may be the best-known spelling rule:

i before e, except after c

or when sounded like "ay"

as in neighbor and weigh

Here are some words that follow the rule:

IE words: believe, field, relief

CEI words: ceiling, deceit, receive

EI words: freight, reign, sleigh

Some exceptions: either, foreign, height, leisure, protein, weird

"CIEN words" are another exception to the rule. These include ancient, efficient, and science.

2. Here's another familiar spelling rule: "Silent e helps a vowel say its name." This means that when a word ends with a vowel followed by a consonant and then silent e, the vowel has a long sound. That's the difference between rate and rat, hide and hid, and cube and cub.
   
   
3. Have you heard the expression "When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking?" This means that when there are two vowels in a row, the first usually has a long sound and the second is silent. That's why it's team, not taem; coat, not caot; and wait, not wiat. Remembering this rule will help you to put vowels in the right order. (goal, coal, bail ...)
   
   
4. Go to this link, and write out the seven rules about spelling plural nouns. Write this out in your book under the heading: Spelling Plural Nouns, and also write out the examples given.
   
   
5. Read the following about breaking words into syllables. Then write a list of ten ' long' words, and show the syllables in each. Use http://dictionary.reference.com/ to check the spelling.
   
   In general, though, memorizing rules isn't the most effective way to learn spelling. Most rules have exceptions—and besides, you are best at learning words that you have made an effort to understand. A good way to understand a word is to break it into syllables. Look for prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Practice each short part and then the whole word.

dis-ap-pear-ing

tra-di-tion-al

After you break apart a word, ask yourself: How is this word like other words I know? Spelling the word traditional may make you think of spelling functional and national. Finding patterns among words is one of the best ways to learn spelling.

6. Read the following about 'funny memory aids', and then read the list of 'Frequently Misspelled Words' below. Pick and write out five words from the list, and under each, make up a funny memory aid that you think might help someone remember how to spell the word.
   
   It's also helpful to try making up a funny memory aids. For example, do you have trouble remembering which has two s's—desert (arid land) or dessert (a sweet treat)? Remember that with dessert, you'd like seconds. Similarly, do you have trouble remembering how to spell separate? Remember that there's a rat in the middle.
   
   
7. Read the following about 'another kind of memory aid', and then read the list of 'Frequently Misspelled Words' below. Write two words from the list, and also a 'goofy sentence' that might help someone remember how to spell the word.
   
   Another kind of memory aid is to make up a sentence in which the first letter of each word can be used to make the spelling word. The sillier the better—goofy sentences may be easier to remember.

chili: cats have interesting little ideas

physical: please have your strawberry ice cream and lollipops

8. Read the following about pronouncing words correctly, and then listen carefully as your teacher asks some of you to read out aloud, the words from the 'Frequently Misspelled Words'. Write down three or four of the words, that you have mispronounced in the past. For example, in the past you may have pronounced 'government'  as 'goverment', without the 'n'.
   
   Make sure that you are pronouncing words correctly. This can help you to avoid some common spelling errors, such as canidate instead of candidate, jewelery instead of jewellery, and libary instead of library.
   
9. Read the following about electronic spell checkers, and then make up and write out your own 'messed' up sentence, like the one about Jim below. Remember, the words need to be spelt correctly, but just be in the wrong context.
   
   Don't rely on electronic spellcheckers! They can miss errors—especially when you have used the wrong word but spelled it correctly. To prove it, we've taken a sentence and messed up all the words. And the spellchecker thinks it's fine.

   "I might need some new shoes for gym," Harry told our Aunt Ann.

   "Eye mite knead sum knew shoos four Jim," Hairy tolled hour Ant an.

10. Make up and write out five sentences. But each sentence has to use three different words from the 'Frequently Misspelled Words' list below. Write the words you use from the list, in a different colour to the rest of your writing.
    

                   Some Easily Confused Words     top

 Many words in our language are similar but not the same.

Read the Easily Confused Words below. Then write a short funny story, using these thirteen  words in italics (blue type) in your story:        (Remember to give your story an interesting title.)

hanged / hung, 
cite / site, 
emigrant / immigrant / migrant, 
farther / further, 
it's / its, 
principal / principle.

When you use the words in your story, write the words in a different coloured pen to rest of your story.
                                          Easily Confused Words

allusion / illusion

Allusion is a noun that means an indirect reference: “The speech made allusions to the final report.”

Illusion is a noun that means a misconception: “The policy is designed to give an illusion of reform.”

beside / besides

Beside is a preposition that means next to: “Stand here beside me. ”

Besides is an adverb that means also: “Besides, I need to tell you about the new products my company offers.”

cite / site

Cite is a verb that means to quote as an authority or example: “I cited several eminent scholars in my study of water resources.” It also means to recognize formally: “The public official was cited for service to the city.” It can also mean to summon before a court of law: “Last year the company was cited for pollution violations.”

Site is a noun meaning location: “They chose a new site for the factory just outside town.”

complement / compliment

Complement is a noun or verb that means something that completes or makes up a whole: “The red sweater is a perfect complement to the outfit.”

Compliment is a noun or verb that means an expression of praise or admiration: “I received many compliments about my new outfit.”

concurrent / consecutive

Concurrent is an adjective that means simultaneous or happening at the same time as something else: “The concurrent strikes of several unions crippled the economy.”

Consecutive means successive or following one after the other: “The union called three consecutive strikes in one year.”

connote / denote

Connote is a verb that means to imply or suggest: “The word ‘espionage’ connotes mystery and intrigue.”

Denote is a verb that means to indicate or refer to specifically: “The symbol for ‘pi’ denotes the number 3.14159.”

discreet / discrete

Discreet is an adjective that means prudent, circumspect, or modest: “Their discreet comments about the negotiations led the reporters to expect an early settlement.”

Discrete is an adjective that means separate or individually distinct: “Each company in the conglomerate operates as a discrete entity.”

disinterested / uninterested

Disinterested is an adjective that means unbiased or impartial: “We appealed to the disinterested mediator to facilitate the negotiations.”

Uninterested is an adjective that means not interested or indifferent: “They seemed uninterested in our offer.”

emigrant / immigrant / migrant

Emigrant is a noun that means one who leaves one's native country to settle in another: “The emigrants spent four weeks aboard ship before landing in Los Angeles .”

Immigrant is a noun that means one who enters and settles in a new country: “Most of the immigrants easily found jobs.”

Migrant is a noun that means one who travels from one region to another, especially in search of work: “The migrants worked in the strawberry fields on the west coast, then travelled east to harvest wheat.”

farther / further

Farther is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a more distant point: “We drove 50 miles today; tomorrow, we will travel 100 miles farther.”

Further is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a greater extent or degree: “We won't be able to suggest a solution until we are further along in our evaluation of the problem.” It can also mean in addition or moreover: “They stated further that they would not change the policy.”

foreword / forward

Foreword is a noun that means an introductory note or preface: “In my foreword I explained my reasons for writing the book.”

Forward is an adjective or adverb that means toward the front: “I sat in the forward section of the bus. Please step forward when your name is called.” Forward is also a verb that means to send on: “Forward the letter to the customer's new address.”

hanged / hung

Hanged is the past tense and past participle of hang when the meaning is to execute by suspending by the neck: “They hanged the prisoner for treason.” “The convicted killer was hanged at dawn.”

Hung is the past tense and participle of hang when the meaning is to suspend from above with no support from below: “I hung the painting on the wall.” “The painting was hung at a crooked angle.”

it's / its

It's is a contraction for it is, whereas its is the possessive form of it: “It's a shame that we cannot talk about its size.”

laid / lain / lay

Laid is the past tense and the past participle of the verb lay and not the past tense of lie.

Lay is the past tense of the verb lie and lain is the past participle: “He laid his books down and lay down on the couch, where he has lain for an hour.”

principal / principle

Principal is a noun that means a person who holds a high position or plays an important role: “The school principal has 20 years of teaching experience. The principals in the negotiations will meet tomorrow at 10 o'clock.” It also means a sum of money on which interest accrues: “The depositors were guaranteed they would not lose their principal.” Principal is also an adjective that means chief or leading: “The necessity of moving to another city was the principal reason I turned down the job offer.”

Principle is a noun that means a rule or standard: “They refused to compromise their principles.”

stationary / stationery

Stationary is an adjective that means fixed or unmoving: “They maneuvered around the stationary barrier in the road.”

Stationery is a noun that means writing materials: “We printed the letters on company stationery.”

                    Frequently Misspelled Words  top

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The green coloured, plain text above, are extracts from: http://www.factmonster.com
          http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0882902.html