Spelling rules English has a small number of rules that underpin how words and certain types of word ought to be spelt. If you can learn these rules will be on your way to becoming a better and more confident speller. Don’t be put off if the rule sounds complicated — look at the examples and you will begin to sce spelling patterns emerging. Although these rules do not cover every word in the language, they can often help you make a good attempt at guessing how an unfamiliar word ought to be spelt. you Qis always followed by U One of the simplest and most consistent rules is that the letter Q is always followed by U. quick quack quiet The only exceptions are a few unusual words that have been borrowed from other languages, especially Arabic: burqa, Traqi. Jand V are followed by a vowel These letters are rarely followed by a consonant and do not usually come at the ends of words. a sound you think might be a J at the end of a word If you come acr¢ to be spelt using the letters GE or DGE. or syllable, it is 1 page edge forage If a word ends with the sound represented by V, there is likely to be a 83