Back to Back Issues Page
Nine spelling rules with -ing and -ed: Editor's Notes #154
December 06, 2013
Hello,

My spelling is Wobbly.
It's good spelling, but it Wobbles,
and the letters get in the wrong places.

--A.A. Milne


In this issue:

1. Nine rules for spelling with -ing and -ed
2. Tickled my funnybone
3. Interesting Web site

==========
1. Nine rules for spelling with -ing and -ed
If you struggle with the rules for adding -ed and -ing to verbs, these rules may be just what you need.

Rule 1. Verbs that end in a consonant and -e (hope, injure)
-ING form: Drop the -e and add -ing (hoping, injuring).
-ED form: If the word ends in a consonant and -e, just add -d (hoped, injured). (Technically, you drop the -e and add -ed, but shortcuts are allowed.)

Rule 2: Verbs that end in one vowel followed by one consonant (stop, rob)
-ING form and -ED form: Double the last consonant and add the ending (stopping, robbing, stopped, robbed).

Rule 3: Verbs that end in a vowel team followed by one consonant (rain, fool)
-ING form and -ED form: Add the ending (raining, fooling, rained, fooled).

Rule 4: Two-syllable verbs with the stress on the first syllable (listen, offer)
-ING form and -ED form: Add the ending (listening, offering, listened, offered).

Rule 5: Two-syllable verbs with the stress on the second syllable (control, prefer)
-ING form and -ED form: Double the last consonant and add the ending (controlling, preferring, controlled, preferred).

Rule 6: Verbs that end in two consonants (start, fold)
-ING form and -ED form: Add the ending.

Rule 7: Verbs that end with -y where -y is preceded by a vowel (enjoy, pray)
-ING form and -ED form: Keep the -y and add the ending (enjoying, praying, enjoyed, prayed).

Rule 8: Verbs that end with -y where -y is preceded by a consonant (study, try)
-ING form: Keep the -y and add -ing (studying, trying).
-ED form: Change -y to -i and add -ed (studied, tried).

Rule 9: Verbs that end in -ie (die, lie)
-ING form: Change -ie to -y and add -ing (dying, lying).
-ED form: Add -d (died, lied). See Rule 1.

If you have any spelling rules you rely on, send them to me, and I'll pass them on.

===========

2.Tickled my funnybone
Is Atheism a non-prophet organization?

===========

3. Interesting Web site
Do what you will with this list of 100 commonly misspelled words (including misspelled itself).
http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/spelling-and-word-lists/misspelled.html

===========
Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor
Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor

===========
If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue.

If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html

Back to Back Issues Page