Portfolio Item 1Back to Basics Pack

Contents:

1. Parts of speech2. Spelling Terms3. Literary terms4. Poetic Devices5. Poetic Devices continued6. Conjunctions 7. Conjunction Exercises8. Sentence Faults9. More sentence faults10. Regular verbs11. Irregular verbs: Alphabetical list12. Spelling rules13. Common spelling errors14. References

Usage:

The back to basics pack is used to revise basic English skills and help to prepare you for academic writing. It forms a very useful resource for you to keep handy when writing for any purpose.

Instructions:

Read through the pack and complete the exercises included. Create a folder on your computer named LALS A Portfolio and save these exercises as a word document with the title Portfolio Item 1: Back to Basics. Each portfolio item you do can be saved to the LALS A folder in this way.

Reflection:

In 50-100 words explain what you have learned from completing this portfolio item in your Reflective Journal. Your reflective journal will be a word document file that can also be saved into your LALS A folder. You will write an entry into your journal at the completion of each portfolio item.

Parts of SpeechThe words that we use can be divided into these classes:

Article

An article is a word that introduces a noun and also limits or clarifies it. IN English, the indefinite articles are; a, and an, the definite article is the.

Noun

A noun is a type of word that represents a person, place or thing, like mother, apple, or valley.

Verb

A verb is a type of word that describes action or a state of being, like wiggle, walk, run, jump, be, do, have or think

Pronoun

A pronoun is a substitute for a noun. Some pronouns are; I, me, she, hers, he , him, it , you, they, them etc.

Adjective

An adjective is a word that describes something (a noun). Some adjectives are; big, cold, blue, and silly.

Adverb

An adverb is a word that tells, ‘how, when, where, or how much’. Some adverbs are easily, warmly, quickly, mainly, freely, often, and unfortunately.

Preposition

A preposition is a word that shows the spatial (space), temporal (time), or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence. The words; above, near, at, by, after, with and from are prepositions.

Conjunction

A conjunction is a word that joins other words, phrases, clauses or sentences. Some conjunctions are; and, as, because, but, or since, so, until, and while.

Interjection

An interjection is a word that expresses emotion. An interjection often starts a sentence but it can also be contained within the sentence or can stand alone. Some interjections are; oh, wow, ugh, yuk, hooray, and ah. They are sometimes followed by an exclamation mark!

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Subject

The subject of the sentence is the thing that is doing the action, ‘the dog bit the man’ the dog is the subject.

Object

The thing the action is done to, ‘the dog bit the man’ the man was bitten.

Spelling TermsSynonym

A word that has the same or similar meaning; warm/hot, wealthy/rich, loud/noisy etc

Antonym

A word with the opposite meaning; hot/cold, warm/cool, rich/poor etc

Homonym

The word that looks the same but has a different meaning;

Saw (past tense of see)

Saw (a tool to cut with)

Homophone

A word that sounds the same but is spelt differently;

See/sea, which/witch, their/there/they’re

Prefix

Comes before a word to create a new word; ability/disability, fortunate/unfortunate

Suffix

Comes after a word to create a new word, obey/obedience, joy/joyful

Plural

More than one; dog/dogs, cactus/cacti

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Literary TermsSimile

Saying something is like something else, using the words like or as;

As bold as a lion, he snores like a pig

Metaphor

Saying that something is something else, without using like or as

‘The road was a ribbon of darkness’

‘The stars were jewels in the night sky’

Phrase

A group of words which make sense within a sentence; ‘with red hair’,

The girl, with red hair, walked away.

Clause

A group of words which make sense within a sentence and have a verb;

Fish swim in water and have scales.

Poetic Devices

Alliteration - The repetition of initial consonant sounds, either in consecutive words, or in the first word of each line.

Assonance - The repetition of vowel sounds in the words of the poem.

Imagery - Mental pictures created by the words of the poem.

Metaphor - Implicit comparison, by using a word normally used for one thing, to designate another (He closed the door to his heart).

Meter - The measured arrangement of words in poems.

Onomatopoeia - Using words which imitate the sound they refer to (Buzzzzz).

Personification - Endowing animals, objects or ideas with human traits or abilities (The trees laughed at us).

Point of View: First person: The writer is in the poem and tells it from his/her perspective (I came upon two paths...).

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Point of View: Third person: The writer tells the poem from an objective perspective (He came upon two paths...).

Point of View: Third person omniscient: The writer isn't in the poem, but knows and describes what all characters are thinking (John didn't want to choose, and Mary hated both paths...).

Repetition - Repeating of words, phrases, lines, sounds, or stanzas.

Rhyme - Identical or similar ending sounds between two words or lines.

Rhyme pattern - The way the rhymes occur in a poem (First and third lines of each stanza, for example).

Simile - A comparison of objects using "like", "as", or "than" or similar words (It was like an orgy of despair).

Stanza - One of the divisions of a poem; a grouping of two or more lines.

Poetic Devices continued

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton is the repetition of a simple conjunction in close succession for rhetorical effect, as in the phrase; ‘here and there and everywhere’.

Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis is a rhetorical device wherein a sentence is deliberately broken off and left unfinished the ending to be supplied by the imagination, giving an impression of inability to continue, a simple example would be “Get out, or else...!”

Ellipsis

An ellipsis is a mark – or a series of marks...that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word or phrase from the original text when quoting or when writing indicate a pause in speech, an unfinished thought or at the end of a sentence trailing off into silence as in aposiopesis.

Consonance

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds, but not vowels, as in assonance.

Example:lady lounges lazily , dark deep dread crept in

Recursive

Recursive means it ends the way it begins as in Stephen King’s poem A Paranoid Chant, where the last stanza of the poem repeats the first stanza ‘...I can’t go out no more.’

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Conjunctions: Conjunctions or connectives are used to link parts of sentences and to link different sentences within explanations. These links can be used to show; time and sequence, cause and effect, comparison and addition.

Time and sequence

First, second, third , next, at this point, at once, finally, lastly, in the end, next thing, now, before, then, here, previously, when, meanwhile, after a while, afterwards, soon, shortly.

Cause and effect

So, therefore, because, caused by, as a consequence, consequently, an effect of, as a result of, despite this, otherwise, an outcome of, even though, stemmed from.

Comparison

However, by contrast, nevertheless, rather, differs from, instead, on the other hand, on the contrary, alternatively.

Addition

In addition to, as well as, furthermore, besides, also, and, nor, neither, not only, but, moreover.

Conjunction Exercises:Exercises

Conjunctions joining single words

Conjunctions often join single words. By inserting words from the box, complete the following well-known sayings. Each saying contains one of these conjunctions, ‘and, ‘or’, or ‘nor’.

Bone only less file dried sure never sound ready

Mighty later soul die go key money earth furious

1. Fast and...................2. Cut and....................3. Body and.................4. Skin and...................5. Heaven and..............6. Rank and..................

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7. Now and...................8. Sooner or.................9. More or.................... 10. Do or.......................11. Rough and...............12. Touch and...............13. Love nor..................14. Slow and.................15. One and...................16. Safe and.................17. Lock and.................18. High and.................

Joining sentences with conjunctions:Join each of the pairs of sentences below using the conjunction show in bold type:

Because

Manu of the world’s endangered species may be saved.

Greenpeace has educated the nations of the world.

When

The tiger population in India had dropped to a mere two thousand.

‘Operation Tiger’ helped increase the numbers to seven thousand.

Although

The European Bison was once common all over Europe.

It is now found only in some remote Polish and Russian parks.

Since

The Blue Whale has been keenly hunted in modern times.

It has become an endangered species.

And

The Western Swamp Tortoise is one of the world’s rarest tortoises.

It is one of Australia’s most endangered animals.

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But

The Giant Otter has a diet mainly of fish.

Occasionally it eats small mammals, birds and their young.

Sentence FaultsHere are some rules for writing that will help you to write sentences correctly.

Subjects of sentences

All sentences have a subject and a verb even if the sentence consists of only one word. In all sentences the subject and the verb agree. When the subject consists of one singular noun, a singular verb is used.

Kylie Minogue is a famous entertainer.

The speed of the Ford Laser was amazing.

When the subject consists of two or more nouns joined by ‘and’, a plural verb is usually used.

Burke and Wills were famous explorers.

When the subject is plural, the plural form of the verb must be used.

Dolphins were performing at the marine park.

When the subject is made up of two nouns (or pronouns) joined by ‘with’, ‘as well as’, ‘like’, ‘together with’ or ‘besides’, the verb agrees with the first noun (or pronoun).

The coach, as well as the players, was ecstatic.

Two or more singular parts of a subject joined by ‘either....or’ or ‘neither...nor’ require a singular verb.

Neither the play nor the film was interesting.

Adjectives

When two persons or things are compared, the comparative (-er) form is used; when more than two, the superlative (-est) is used.

He is the better of the two tennis players.

You are the best of the three tennis players.

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‘Fewer’ always refers to number, ‘less’ to quantity.

There were fewer cyclists here today than yesterday.

Because of the drought there was less water in the dam.

The adjectives ‘each’, ‘every’, ‘either’ and ‘neither’ are singular. Even when they are followed by two nouns that are joined by ‘and’, the verb is singular.

Every teacher and student was expected to attend.

Correcting SentencesUsing the previous rules, try your hand at correcting these sentences.

1. The kangaroo and the wallaby has a pouch for their young.2. Neither London nor New York were nominated to host the Olympic games3. There are less humans in the world than there are insects.4. The dodo and the Tasmanian tiger has become extinct.5. A flying fox, together with birds, are regarded as a nuisance by fruit growers.6. The blue whale is the bigger of all mammals.7. Every boy and girl have heard the story of Robin Hood.8. Sign language, as well as lip reading, are used by deaf people to communicate.9. Of the two essays, hers was the best.10. There is fewer land on the Earth’s surface than sea.11. Each of the avalanches recorded on the New Zealand Mountain were caused by vibration.12. Accidents, poor health and old age sometimes causes our bones to break.13. The loss of brain cells are a reason why old people may not be able to see or hear well.14. Female mosquitoes carries the deadly disease malaria.15. Sleep, together with food and drink, are basic human needs.16. The worse disaster caused by an iceberg was to the British liner the Titanic. 17. There is fewer coffee grown in Australia than in South America.18. Opal and turquoise is found in sedimentary rock.19. Australia’s Great Barrier Reed is the larger reef in the world.20. There were less students at school today.

More Sentence FaultsPronouns

A singular pronoun must be used to refer to a singular noun.

The compact disc is now dominating the music market. It cells over fourteen million copies a year in Australia.

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A plural pronoun must be used to refer to a plural noun.

Cassettes were selling well. They are not very popular now.

When pronouns of different persons are used, the order is the third person (he, she, it, they), second person (you), first person (I).

He, you and I have been selected in the team.

The pronouns ‘everyone’, ‘nobody’, ‘anybody’, ‘each’, ‘either’ and ‘neither’ used as subjects are followed by singular verbs.

Everyone is writing an essay.

A reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) should not be used as the subject of a sentence.

My brother and I are going to see a film. (Not myself)

The pronoun ‘them’ should not be used instead of ‘those’.

Where did you buy those jeans? (Not them)

VerbsThe subject of a verb performs the action. The object of a verb has the action directed to it.

Andrew and I chased the dog. (Not Andrew and me)

The dog chased Andrew and me. (Not Andrew and I)

The past participle should not be used for the past tense, or the past tense for the past participle.

He drank the polluted water. (Not drunk)

She had seen the accident. (Not saw)

AdverbsYou should not confuse adjectives with adverbs.

She played the piano well. (Not good)

It was a really pleasing result. (Not real)

PrepositionsNouns and pronouns that follow prepositions are in the objective case. Because of this, the pronoun must change its form.

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They promised to play ‘Trivial Pursuit’ with me. (Not I)

The preposition ‘of’ should not replace ‘have’ as a part of the verb.

They should have come sooner. (Not of)

You should not add unnecessary prepositions.

They crossed the road. (Over should not be inserted)

More sentence correction exercisesUse the previous rules to help you correct these sentences.

1. Everyone are fascinated by myths and legends.2. There are more than 350 different types of pencils. Each have a special use. 3. At the party, all the lemonade was drank by the guests.4. Sharks can be real frightening.5. The teacher asked Jane and I to perform in the class play. 6. Don Bradman would of been the first cricketer to have had an average of one hundred runs.7. When I rung the emergency number, the operator transferred me to the police.8. I’m glad I finished my homework so quick.9. Cats were regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt but it is not regarded as sacred today.10. You and me should really go to the study day.11. Have you sang in the school’s choir?12. You and I am studying the same subjects this year.13. Did you see them jellyfish in the surf?14. The dog growled menacingly at my friend and I15. We should of left earlier if we wanted to arrive on time.16. The first self-winding wrist watch was patented in 1924. They are made largely in

Switzerland. 17. My mother and ourselves are going camping next holidays.18. After the accident he should have went immediately to the police.19. The climber ascended up the mountain.20. The jockey had rode in many important races.

Regular Verbs

English regular verbs change their form very little (unlike irregular verbs). The past tense and past participle of regular verbs end in -ed, for example:

work, worked, worked

But you should note the following points:

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1. Some verbs can be both regular and irregular, for example:

learn, learned, learnedlearn, learnt, learnt

2. Some verbs change their meaning depending on whether they are regular or irregular, for example "to hang":

regular hang, hanged, hanged

to kill or die, by dropping with a rope around the neck

irregular hang, hung, hung to fix something (for example, a picture) at the top so that the lower part is free

3. The present tense of some regular verbs is the same as the past tense of some irregular verbs:

regular found, founded, founded

irregular find, found, found

Irregular Verbs

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Base Form

Simple Past Tense Past Participle

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awake awoke awoken

be was, were been

bear bore born

beat beat beat

become became become

begin began begun

bend bent bent

beset beset beset

bet bet bet

bid bid/bade bid/bidden

bind bound bound

bite bit bitten

bleed bled bled

blow blew blown

break broke broken

breed bred bred

bring brought brought

broadcast broadcast broadcast

build built built

burn burned/burnt burned/burnt

burst burst burst

buy bought bought

cast cast cast

catch caught caught

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choose chose chosen

cling clung clung

come came come

cost cost cost

creep crept crept

cut cut cut

deal dealt dealt

dig dug dug

dive dived/dove dived

do did done

draw drew drawn

dream dreamed/dreamt dreamed/dreamt

drive drove driven

drink drank drunk

eat ate eaten

fall fell fallen

feed fed fed

feel felt felt

fight fought fought

find found found

fit fit fit

flee fled fled

fling flung flung

fly flew flown

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forbid forbade forbidden

forget forgot forgotten

forego (forgo) forewent foregone

forgive forgave forgiven

forsake forsook forsaken

freeze froze frozen

get got gotten

give gave given

go went gone

grind ground ground

grow grew grown

hang hung hung

hear heard heard

hide hid hidden

hit hit hit

hold held held

hurt hurt hurt

keep kept kept

kneel knelt knelt

knit knit knit

know knew know

lay laid laid

lead led led

leap leaped/leapt leaped/leapt

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learn learned/learnt learned/learnt

leave left left

lend lent lent

let let let

lie lay lain

light lighted/lit lighted

lose lost lost

make made made

mean meant meant

meet met met

misspell misspelled/misspelt misspelled/misspelt

mistake mistook mistaken

mow mowed mowed/mown

overcome overcame overcome

overdo overdid overdone

overtake overtook overtaken

overthrow overthrew overthrown

pay paid paid

plead pled pled

prove proved proved/proven

put put put

quit quit quit

read read read

rid rid rid

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ride rode ridden

ring rang rung

rise rose risen

run ran run

saw sawed sawed/sawn

say said said

see saw seen

seek sought sought

sell sold sold

send sent sent

set set set

sew sewed sewed/sewn

shake shook shaken

shave shaved shaved/shaven

shear shore shorn

shed shed shed

shine shone shone

shoe shoed shoed/shod

shoot shot shot

show showed showed/shown

shrink shrank shrunk

shut shut shut

sing sang sung

sink sank sunk

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sit sat sat

sleep slept slept

slay slew slain

slide slid slid

sling slung slung

slit slit slit

smite smote smitten

sow sowed sowed/sown

speak spoke spoken

speed sped sped

spend spent spent

spill spilled/spilt spilled/spilt

spin spun spun

spit spit/spat spit

split split split

spread spread spread

spring sprang/sprung sprung

stand stood stood

steal stole stolen

stick stuck stuck

sting stung stung

stink stank stunk

stride strod stridden

strike struck struck

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string strung strung

strive strove striven

swear swore sworn

sweep swept swept

swell swelled swelled/swollen

swim swam swum

swing swung swung

take took taken

teach taught taught

tear tore torn

tell told told

think thought thought

thrive thrived/throve thrived

throw threw thrown

thrust thrust thrust

tread trod trodden

understand understood understood

uphold upheld upheld

upset upset upset

wake woke woken

wear wore worn

weave weaved/wove weaved/woven

wed wed wed

weep wept wept

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wind wound wound

win won won

withhold withheld withheld

withstand withstood withstood

wring wrung wrung

write wrote written

Spelling RulesHere is a link to a pdf all about spelling rules.

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/studserv/learning/pdfs/fourspellingrulesandexceptions.pdf

Spelling Rules

1. "I before E except after C"

The Exception: "I before E except after C or with words that make the long A": freight,

beige, sleigh, weight, vein, reign, and weigh.

Oh, one last thing, there is an exception to the exception: either, neither, feint,

foreign, forfeit, height, leisure, weird, seize, and seizure.

Don't let the exceptions wear you out, the rule still works for the majority of "ie"

words.

2. "Dropping Final E"

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When adding a suffix ending that begins with a vowel to a word that ends with a silent

"e", drop the final "e": advancing, surprising, pricing, etc.

However, if the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the final "e": advancement,

likeness, princely

The Exception: If the silent "e" is preceded by another vowel, drop the "e" when

adding any suffix: argument, argued, truly.

This is to avoid confusion and mispronunciation, the final "e" is kept in words where

the final "e" is preceded by a soft "g" or a soft "c": changeable, courageous,

manageable, management, noticeable. This is because of the rules of pronunciation

that take precedence over spelling rules.

3. "Dropping Final Y"

When adding suffix to a word that ends with y, change the "y" to "i" when it is

preceded by a consonant: supply becomes supplies, worry becomes worried, merry

becomes merrier.

The Exception:

This does not apply to the ending -ing: crying, studying. Also, it does not apply when

the final "y" is preceded by a vowel: obeyed, saying.

4. "Doubling Final Consonants"

When adding a suffix, doubling consonants at the end of words is sometimes

determined by the number of syllables. For example, double the final consonant

before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel when the last syllable of the word is

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accented and that syllable ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant. Do

not be frightened by the complexity of the sentence.

Here's an example: "submit" is accented on the last syllable and the final consonant is

preceded by a vowel, (submit). We double the "t" before adding, for instance, -ing or -

ed: submitting, submitted.

Here's another example: flap contains only one syllable which means that it is always

accented. Again, the last consonant is preceded by a vowel (flap, so we double it

before adding, for instance, -ing or -ed: flapping, flapped also referring, referral, or

beginner, beginning.

Words with accented last syllables have been mentioned but what about words

where the accent falls on the first syllable.

The word "open" contains two syllables and the last syllable is preceded by a single

vowel, (open), but the accent falls on the first syllable (OPen), not the last syllable, so

we don't double the "n" before adding an ending: opening, opened. This rule also

applies to words when the final consonant is preceded by either another consonant or

two vowels: or relented, relenting, or dealer and dealing, also despairing, despaired.

The Exception:

This rule does not apply to verbs that end with "x," "w," "v," and "y," because these

are consonants that cannot be doubled: box becomes boxing, snow becomes

snowing.

5. "Adding Prefixes"

After all of that, the simplest rule involves the addition of prefixes because adding a

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prefix to a word does not change its spelling. Oddly enough, the most often misspelled

word is...misspell! When adding a prefix you merely attach it to the word regardless

of duplication of consonant, syllabication, or accents: unnecessary, dissatisfied,

disinterested, misinform.

Common Spelling Errors

abscess sc in the middle, two s's at the end

abseil ends with -seil (not -sail)

accommodate, accommodation, etc.

two cs, two ms (often misspelled with only one m)

accumulate, accumulation, etc. two cs, one m

achieve i before e

acquaint, acquire, acquit, etc. remember the c before the q

address two ds

aggressive, aggression, etc. two g's, two s's

all right two words (not alright)

a lot two words (not alot)

amateur ends with -eur (not -uer)

anaesthetic -ae- after the n

Antarctic remember the c after the r

apartment only one p

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apparent ends with -ent (not -ant)

aqueduct e after the u (not aqua-)

archaeology -ae- after the h

Arctic remember the c after the r

argument no e after the u

artefact arte- (arti- is the US spelling)

asterisk ends with -isk (Asterix is a cartoon character)

attach ends with -ach (no t)

beautiful, beauty, etc. remember the u (not beat-)

belief, believe i before e

benighted no k in the middle

besiege i before e

biased only one s

bigoted only one t

blatant ends with -ant (not -ent)

brief i before e

broccoli two cs, one l

buoy, buoyant u before the o

cappuccino two ps, two cs

Caribbean one r, two bs

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ceiling e before i

cemetery 3 vowels, all es

civilian only one l

coconut -co- in the middle (no a)

commemorate two ms, then single m

commitment two ms, one t in the middle

committee two ms, two ts

comparative -rative (not -ritive)

compatible -tible (not -table)

competent ends with -ent (not -ant)

conceive e before i

consensus -sensus (not -census)

contemporary ends with -porary (not -pory)

correspondence ends with -ence (not -ance)

cursor ends with -or (not -er)

deceive e before i

definite -ite (not -ate)

descendant ends with -ant (not -ent)

despair begins with des- (not dis-)

desperate -per- in the middle (not -par-)

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detach ends with -ach (no t)

diarrhoea two rs, ends with -hoea

disappear one s, two ps

disappoint one s, two ps

disastrous ends with -trous (not -terous)

discipline remember the c after the s

dissect two s's

ecstasy ecs- (not x), ends with -asy

eighth two hs, ends with -hth

embarrass, embarrassment, etc.

two rs, two s's

environment remember the n before the m

espresso begins with es- (not ex-)

estuary -tuary (not -taury)

exaggerate, exaggeration two gs, one r

except remember the c after the x

exhilarate -lar- in the middle (not -ler-)

existence ends with -ence (not -ance)

extraordinary begins with extraor- (not extror-)

extrovert begins with extro- (not extra-)

familiar only one l

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fascinate, fascination remember the c after the s

February two rs (-ruary not -uary)

fierce i before e

fluorescent fluor- (not flour-)

foreign e before i

forty begins with for- (no u)

friend i before e

fulfil, fulfilment two single ls

gauge -au- (not -ua-)

glamorous, glamorize -mor- in the middle (no u)

government remember the n before the m

graffiti two fs, one t

grammar ends with -ar (not -er)

grateful begins with grate- (not great-)

grief, grieve i before e

guarantee -ua- (not -au-)

guard, guardian, etc. -ua- (not -au-)

hamster ham-, (not hamp-)

handkerchief remember the d

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harass, harassment, etc. one r, two s's

hers no apostrophe

hierarchy i before e, ends with -archy

hindrance ends with -drance (not -derance)

homogeneous the ending is -eous, with an e

honorary -nor- in the middle (no u)

humorous, humorist -mor- in the middle (no u)

hygiene, hygienic i before e

idiosyncrasy ends with -asy (not -acy)

imaginary ends with -ary (not -ery)

immediately ends with -ately (not -atly)

inadvertent ends with -ent (not -ant)

independent ends with -ent (not -ant)

inoculate one n, one c

insistent ends with -ent (not -ant)

instalment one l

interrupt, interruption two rs

introvert begins with intro- (not intra-)

irrelevant two rs, ends with -ant

itinerary ends with -ary (not -ery)

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jocular ends with -ar (not -er)

judgement use judgement in general contexts, judgment in legal use

kernel ends with -el (not -al)

knowledge remember the d

language -guage (not -gauge)

liaise, liaison remember the second i: liais-

library two rs (-rary)

lightning lightn- (no e)

liquefy -efy (not -ify)

maintenance -ten- (not -tain-), ends with -ance

manoeuvre -oeu- in the middle, ends with -vre

medicine begins with medi- (not mede-)

Mediterranean one d, one t, two rs

millennium two ls, two ns

millionaire two ls, one n

miniature remember the a after the i : minia-

minuscule -uscule (not -iscule)

mischievous i before e, ends with -vous (not -vious)

misspell two s's

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moreover remember the middle e

necessary, necessity, etc. one c, two s's

negotiate ends with -tiate (not -ciate)

niece i before e

noticeable remember the middle e

occasion two cs, one s

occur two cs, one r

occurrence two cs, two rs

omission, omit one m

opportunity two ps

ours no apostrophe

parallel two ls in the middle, ends with one l

parliament -lia- in the middle

pejorative begins with pej- (not perj-)

perceive e before i

permanent ends with -ent (not -ant)

persistent ends with -ent (not -ant)

pharaoh ends with -aoh (not -oah)

pigeon no d before the g

Portuguese ends with -guese (remember the 2nd u)

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possess, possession, etc. two s's in the middle and two at the end

potato no e at the end of the singular (but add -es to make the plural)

privilege ends with -lege (not -ledge)

pronunciation -nunc- in the middle (no o)

propaganda begins with propa- (not propo-)

protein e before i

publicly ends with -cly (not -cally)

pursue, pursuit begins with pur- (not per-)

questionnaire two ns, one r

rarefied rare- (not rari-)

receive e before i

recommend, recommendation, etc.

one c, two ms

refrigerator no d

relevant ends with -ant (not -ent)

relief, relieve i before e

religious ends with -gious (not -gous)

restaurateur no n: -rateur

resuscitate -susc- in the middle (not -suss-)

rhythm begins with rhy-, ends with -thm

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rigorous -gor- in the middle (no u)

risotto one s, two ts

sacrilege -rilege (not -relige)

Scandinavian -din- in the middle (not -dan-)

seize e before i

separate -par- in the middle (not -per-)

siege i before e

sieve i before e

skilful two single ls

success, successful, etc. two cs, two s's

supersede -sede (not -cede)

suppress two ps

surprise begins with sur- (not sup-)

tariff one r, two fs

temperature -pera- in the middle

theirs no apostrophe

thief i before e

threshold one h in the middle

tomato no e at the end of the singular (but add -es to make the plural)

tomorrow one m, two rs

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truly no e

underrate two rs in the middle

unforeseen remember the e after the r

until just one l at the end

unwieldy i before e

usage just one e, at the end

vaccinate two cs

vegetable vege- (not vega-)

veterinary -er- in the middle; -ary at the end

vulnerable remember the l before the n

Wednesday remember the d before the n

weird e before i

wield i before e

wilful two single ls

withhold two hs in the middle

yield i before e

yours no apostrophe

References:

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Carter, S, 2001, Practical English, Longman, Melbourne

Compact Oxford English Dictionary for Students (Online)

< http://www.oup.com/uk/booksites/content/0199296251/essentials/commonspellingerrors/ >

(Reviewed 16/6/10)

Five Simple Spelling Rules

< http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Simple-Spelling-Rules&id=114973 > (reviewed 16/6/10)

Irregular Verbs

< http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm > (reviewed 16/6/10)

Manser, M (Ed), 1991, Bloomsbury Good Word Guide: Spelling, punctuation, grammar, jargon and buzz words, Bloomsbury, London.

Poetic Devices

< http://www.dealapoem.com/poetic-devices.html > (reviewed 16/6/10)

Using English.com

< http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/ > (reviewed 16/6/10)

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