SUPPLEMENT WHICH CONTAINS CERTAIN RULES AND DEFINITIONS OFTEN TAUGHT AS A PART OF THE COURSE OF STUDY IN SPELLING

As a part of the course of study in spelling, there is occasionally found a provision for word study and for teaching certain rules and definitions. The following supplement is added as a guide in schools which make such a requirement. Ordinarily such topics as derivation of words, root prefixes, suffixes, homonyms, antonyms, synonyms, and hyphens are taught, either as a part of composition or as a part of dictionary exercises.

The value of teaching spelling rules is still somewhat a matter of controversy, although the weight of experimental evidence seems to indicate that children do not profit from a study of the rules in spelling, as much as they profit from the same amount of time spent in the direct study of the important words covered by these rules. However, since some city and state courses of study require the teaching of the rules, it seems advisable to put the more important rules in this supplement.

An effort has been made to state these rules in the simplest manner possible, within the limits of accuracy. Great care has been taken, also, to tabulate, for each rule, the words frequently used in correspondence, which are exceptions.

The teacher should understand clearly that it is not the intention of the authors to have these rules take the place of the direct teaching of any word. Rather they are to be regarded as supplementary exercises. It is doubtful whether much attention should be given to rules before grade seven.

DERIVATION OF WORDS

Often one word is built up from several words or syllables. The most important part of such a built-up word is called the root, or base. This root or base had an original meaning which is usually clear, especially in purely English words, as in-side, happi-ness, etc. Many built-up or derivative words are from other languages. A few examples may help to illustrate:

1. international—Latin inter (between) plus nation (nation) plus al (pertaining to)—between nations, pertaining to intercourse between nations.

The root is "nation."

2. extraordinary—Latin extra (on the outside, out of) plus ordinarius (ordinary)—out of the ordinary, unusual.

The root is "ordinar."

3. provide—Latin pro (before) plus vid (to look or see)—to look before or ahead, to look out for in advance.

The root is "vid."

4. convention—Latin con (together) plus ven (to come) plus tion (act of)—act of coming together—meeting.

The root is "ven."

Many roots or bases are taken directly from the English:

1. out-come—act of coming out—that which comes out of something else—result.

2. in-side—inner side or surface.

3. cheer-ful—full of cheer.

4. happi-ness—state of being happy.

In studying these words, you may have noticed that something besides the root or base is needed to make the meaning clear. The other two parts which help to make up words are called prefixes and suffixes. These will be taken up separately.