The idea that there is one right way to combine the
letters representing a certain sound or group of sounds,
that is a word, and that all other ways are wrong and little
short of shameful is a comparatively new idea among us.
The English speaking folk held down to a comparatively
recent time that any group of letters which approximately
represented the sound was amply sufficient as a symbol of
the word. This sort of phonetic spelling was commonly
followed, and followed with great freedom. No obligation
was recognized to be consistent. In ordinary writing, such
as letters and the like, it is not unusual to find the same
word spelled in a variety of ways in the same document.
The last century has brought about an attempt to standardize
spelling into conventional forms any departure from
which is regarded as highly derogatory to the writer. In
many cases these forms are fixed arbitrarily, and in
some there is even now disagreement among the highest
authorities. These difficulties and disagreements have
two reasons: First, English is a composite language,
drawn from many sources and at many periods; hence
purely philological and etymological influences intervene,
sometimes with marked results, while there is a difference
of opinion as to how far these influences ought to prevail.
Second, the English language uses an alphabet which fits
it very badly. Many letters have to do duty for the expression
of several sounds, and sometimes several of them have
nearly or quite the same sound. For example, there are a
number of distinct sounds of a, i, and o while g is sometimes
indistinguishable from j and c from k. This is not
always a matter of modification of sounds by the sounds of
other letters combined with them. One has to learn how
to pronounce cough, dough, enough, and plough, the ough
having four distinct sounds in these four words. Each one
of these sounds, by the way, could be exactly as well represented
by another combination of letters which would
be unmistakable, viz., coff, doe, enuff, and plow. It is
impossible to tell except by the context either the pronunciation
or the meaning of bow. If the ow is pronounced
as in low, it means a weapon. If the ow is pronounced as
in cow it may mean either an obeisance or the front end of
a boat.
This standardization of spelling is unfortunately not
quite complete, although nearly so. Concerning the vast
majority of the words in the English language there is no
difference of opinion. A few words are differently spelled
by different authorities. There are seven of these authorities
of the first rank, three English, Stormonth, the
Imperial Dictionary, and the Oxford Dictionary; and four
American, Webster's International, Worcester, the Century
Dictionary, and the Standard Dictionary. American
printers may ordinarily disregard the English authorities.
Any one of the four American authorities may be safely
followed. In cases where two spellings are given in the
dictionary consulted, take the first one. Ordinarily a printing
office adopts one of the great authorities as a standard
and conforms the office style to it. All office copy will
follow it and all errors in copy from outside will be corrected
by it. Spellings differing from it will be regarded
as errors, even though supported by other authorities.
This rule, however, is subject to one very important
exception. The author has an unquestionable right to
choose his own dictionary or to use any spelling for which
there is any authority, English or American. If he has his
own ideas on the subject of spelling he should be very
careful that his manuscript is correctly spelled according to
his ideas, and clearly written or typed. He should also
indicate on the manuscript the authority he wishes used in
correcting the spelling in case of mistakes or illegible passages.
Every care should be taken to make the manuscript
copy as correct as possible and as legible as possible.
Such care may be very troublesome at first, but it will
result in great saving of expense.
In addition to the authorities named there are the rules
and “reformed” spellings adopted by the American Philological
Association and published by the United States
Government. These are followed fully in some offices,
partly in others, and in many not at all. This is a question
of the office style and the author's wish. If copy is clear
and spelled according to any authority, it is the compositor's
duty to follow it. If it is misspelled or illegible he is
to correct it according to the office style unless otherwise
directed by the author in writing. If furnished with such
a direction he is to follow it. This procedure will clear
the compositor of all blame. Any questions which then
arise lie between the author and the proofreader.
In the case of the reformed spellings, however, the
departure from the ordinary appearance of the words is
so great that the author cannot be allowed full freedom to
set aside the office style. If he is paying for the printing
he may insist on his spelling. If he is contributing to a
periodical and the printing is done at the publisher's expense
it is for the publisher to determine the style of printing
to be used.
Any full consideration of the question of reformed spelling
is hardly in place in this book. The author may perhaps
be permitted one observation. Innovation in the use
of the English language would appear to be primarily the
work of scholars, and the adoption of such innovations
would seem to belong to the book printer rather than to
the commercial printer. The public mind as a whole is
conservative. It is not hospitable to changes and does
not soon become aware of them, much less familiar
with them. The commercial printer makes his appeal to
the mind of the general public. He will do well to use a
vehicle familiar, intelligible, and acceptable to it.
Correct spelling is mainly a matter of habit and observation.
To a certain extent it is a matter of careful pronunciation,
but this is not always a safe or even a possible guide.
The vowels preceding or following the one on which the
primary accent falls, sometimes called obscure vowels, are
so slurringly pronounced that even a pedantic precision will
hardly make it possible to indicate clearly which vowel is
used. The writer remembers seeing an examination paper
written by a fourth year medical student in which the word
fever was spelled fevor. A moment's thought will show
that so far as pronunciation is concerned the word might
be spelled fevar, fevir, fevor, fever, or fevur without any
appreciable difference. The correct spelling is merely a
matter of observation.
The author has on his desk at the moment of writing
these lines half a dozen good books, each containing a set
of rules for spelling. From these it would be easy to compile
a set of fairly good rules. Each of these rules, however,
has exceptions, in some cases quite numerous. To
remember these rules with their exceptions would be a
considerable mental task and to apply them would be cumbrous
and time consuming. The effort would probably
resolve itself into an actual learning of the words which
present difficulties. The best way to become a good
speller is to form the habit of careful reading, observing
the form of every word as it passes before the eye and so
unconsciously fixing it in the memory. The dictionary
should be consulted whenever there is any doubt.
If you are to write a word, call up a mental picture of
it, and if the picture is not perfectly clear go to the dictionary
and fix a correct image of it in your mind. Be careful
to pronounce every word you use as correctly as possible
and you will get all the aid pronunciation can give you.
Careless speaking and careless reading are the two great
sources of incorrect spelling.
The following tables will be found useful in settling
practice with regard to certain troublesome classes of words.
American usage tends to the termination -ize where
English usage often sanctions -ise. Use the termination
-ise in
advertise
advise
appraise
apprise (to inform)
arise
chastise
circumcise
comprise
compromise
demise
devise
disfranchise
disguise
emprise
enfranchise
enterprise
exercise
exorcise
franchise
improvise
incise
merchandise
premise
reprise
revise
rise
supervise
surmise
surprise
Use the termination -ize or -yze in
aggrandize
agonize
analyze
anatomize
anglicize
apologize
apostrophize
apprize (to value)
authorize
baptize
brutalize
canonize
catechize
catholicize
cauterize
centralize
characterize
christianize
civilize
colonize
criticize
crystallize
demoralize
dogmatize
economize
emphasize
epitomize
equalize
eulogize
evangelize
extemporize
familiarize
fertilize
fossilize
fraternize
galvanize
generalize
gormandize
harmonize
immortalize
italicize
jeopardize
legalize
liberalize
localize
magnetize
memorialize
mesmerize
metamorphize
methodize
minimize
modernize
monopolize
moralize
nationalize
naturalize
neutralize
organize
ostracize
paralyze
particularize
pasteurize
patronize
philosophize
plagiarize
pulverize
realize
recognize
reorganize
revolutionize
satirize
scandalize
scrutinize
signalize
solemnize
soliloquize
specialize
spiritualize
standardize
stigmatize
subsidize
summarize
syllogize
symbolize
sympathize
tantalize
temporize
tranquilize
tyrannize
universalize
utilize
vaporize
vitalize
vocalize
vulcanize
vulgarize
Use the termination -ible in the following words:
accessible
admissible
appetible
apprehensible
audible
cessible
coercible
compatible
competible
comprehensible
compressible
conceptible
contemptible
contractible
controvertible
convertible
convincible
corrigible
corrosible
corruptible
credible
decoctible
deducible
defeasible
defensible
descendible
destructible
digestible
discernible
distensible
divisible
docible
edible
effectible
eligible
eludible
enforcible
evincible
expansible
expressible
extendible
extensible
fallible
feasible
fencible
flexible
forcible
frangible
fusible
gullible
horrible
illegible
immiscible
impassible
intelligible
irascible
legible
miscible
negligible
partible
passible (susceptible)
perceptible
permissible
persuasible
pervertible
plausible
possible
producible
reducible
reflexible
refrangible
remissible
reprehensible
resistible
responsible
reversible
revertible
risible
seducible
sensible
tangible
terrible
transmissible
visible
In all other cases use -able.
The following nouns end in -er.
abetter
abstracter
accepter
adapter
adviser
affirmer
aider
almoner
annoyer
arbiter
assenter
asserter
bailer
caster
censer (vessel)
concocter
condenser
conferrer
conjurer
consulter
continuer
contradicter
contriver
convener
conveyer
corrupter
covenanter
debater
defender
deliberater
deserter
desolater
deviser
discontinuer
disturber
entreater
exalter
exasperater
exciter
executer (except in law)
expecter
frequenter
granter
idolater
imposer
impugner
incenser
inflicter
insulter
interceder
interpreter
interrupter
inviter
jailer
lamenter
mortgager (except in law)
obliger
obstructer
obtruder
perfecter
perjurer
preventer
probationer
propeller
protester
recognizer
regrater
relater
respecter
sailer (ship)
sorcerer
suggester
supplanter
upholder
vender
The following nouns end in -or.
abbreviator
abductor
abettor (law)
abominator
abrogator
accelerator
acceptor
accommodator
accumulator
actor
adjudicator
adjutor
administrator
admonitor
adulator
adulterator
aggregator
aggressor
agitator
amalgamator
animator
annotator
antecessor
apparitor
appreciator
arbitrator
assassinator
assessor
benefactor
bettor
calculator
calumniator
captor
castor (oil)
censor
coadjutor
collector
competitor
compositor
conductor
confessor
conqueror
conservator
consignor
conspirator
constrictor
constructor
contaminator
contemplator
continuator
contractor
contributor
corrector
councillor
counsellor
covenantor (law)
creator
creditor
cultivator
cunctator
debtor
decorator
delator (law)
denominator
denunciator
depredator
depressor
deteriorator
detractor
dictator
dilator
director
dissector
disseizor
disseminator
distributor
divisor
dominator
donor
effector
elector
elevator
elucidator
emulator
enactor
equivocator
escheator
estimator
exactor
excavator
exceptor
executor (law)
exhibitor
explorator
expositor
expostulator
extensor
extirpator
extractor
fabricator
factor
flexor
fornicator
fumigator
generator
gladiator
governor
grantor (law)
habitator
imitator
impostor
impropriator
inaugurator
inceptor
incisor
inheritor
initiator
innovator
insinuator
institutor
instructor
interlocutor
interpolator
interrogator
inventor
investor
juror
lector
legator
legislator
lessor
mediator
modulator
monitor
mortgagor (law)
multiplicator
narrator
navigator
negotiator
nonjuror
numerator
objector
obligor (law)
observator
operator
originator
pacificator
participator
peculator
percolator
perforator
perpetrator
persecutor
perturbator
possessor
preceptor
precursor
predecessor
predictor
prevaricator
procrastinator
procreator
procurator
professor
progenitor
projector
prolocutor
promulgator
propagator
propitiator
proprietor
prosecutor
protector
protractor
purveyor
recognizor (law)
recriminator
reflector
regenerator
regulator
relator (law)
rotator
sacrificator
sailor (seaman)
scrutator
sculptor
sectator
selector
senator
separator
sequestrator
servitor
solicitor
spectator
spoliator
sponsor
successor
suitor
supervisor
suppressor
surveyor
survivor
testator
tormentor
traitor
transgressor
translator
valuator
vendor (law)
venerator
ventilator
vindicator
violator
visitor
Words which in their shortest form end in -d, -de, -ge,
-unit, -rt, -se, -sr, take the ending -sion; e.g., abscind,
abscission; include, inclusion; emerge, emersion; remit, remission;
infuse, infusion; repress, repression.
All others take the ending -tion.
The following are irregularities:
adhesion
assertion
attention
coercion
cohesion
crucifixion
declension
dimension
dissension
distortion
divulsion
expulsion
impulsion
insertion
intention
occasion
propulsion
recursion
repulsion
revulsion
scansion
suspicion
tension
version
Words ending in -ance, -ence; -ancy, -ency; -ant, and
-ent, often cause confusion when carelessly written.
The following is a list of the more common words with
the e form.
abducent
abhorrence, -ent
abluent
absent, -ence
absorbent
abstergent
abstinence, -ent
adherence, -ent
advertency, -ent
affluence, -ent
antecedence, -ent
apparent
appertinent
appetence, -ency
ardent
benevolence, -ent
circumference
coexistence
coherence, -ent
coincidence, -ent
competence, -ent
concurrence, -ent
condolence
conference
confidence, -ent
confluence, -ent
consentient
consequence
consequent
consistence, -ent
consistency
constituent
continence, -ent
convenience, -ent
corpulence, -ent
correspondence, -ent
currency, -ent
deference
delinquency, -ent
dependence, -ent
deponent
descendent (adj.)
despondency, -ent
difference
diffidence, -ent
diffluent
efficiency, -ent
eminence, -ency
eminent
excellence, -ency
excellent
existence, -ent
expediency
feculence, -ent
flocculence, -ent
fluency, -ent
fraudulence, -ent
imminence, -ent
impatience, -ent
impellent
imprudence, -ent
impudence, -ent
incipience, -ent
incumbency, -ent
independence, -ent
indolence, -ent
inference
inherence, -ent
intermittent
iridescence, -ent
lambent
latency, -ent
leniency, -ent
magniloquence, -ent
malevolence, -ent
mellifluence, -ent
mollient
obedience, -ent
occurrence, -ent
omniscience, -ent
opulence, -ency
opulent
patience, -ent
pendent (adj.)
pendency
penitence, -ent
permanence, -ent
permanency
pertinence, -ent
pestilence, -ent
poculent
portent
potency, -ent
precedence, -ent
preference
prescience, -ent
presence, -ent
presidency, -ent
proficiency, -ent
prominence, -ent
proponent
providence, -ent
prudence, -ent
purulence, -ent
quintessence
recurrence, -ent
reference
refluence, -ent
repellent
residence, -ency
resident
resolvent
resplendence, -ent
respondent
reverence, -ent
sentient
solvency, -ent
somnolency, -ent
subserviency, -ent
subsidence, -ency
subsistence, -ent
succulent
superintendence
superintendency
superintendent
tendence, -ency
transcendence, -ent
transcendency
transference
transient
transparency, -ent
transplendency, -ent
turbulence, -ent
vicegerency, -ent
virulence, -ent
Nearly all other words of this type take the a form.
The instructor should drill the pupils in spelling not only
these “catch” words, but a wide range of English words.
These lessons may be taken to advantage from some of the
books mentioned in the list for supplementary reading,
from any other good spelling book, or even from the pages
of any well printed book or magazine. The words should
be given out orally and written down by the pupil. A good
exercise is the reading of a paragraph from any good book,
or some stanza of poetry, the passage read to be taken
down by the pupil with care to spell, punctuate, and
capitalize properly.
A number of topics sometimes treated under the head
of spelling will be found discussed in the “Printer's Manual
of Style” (No. 41).