Spelling Rules: AI/IA & -CEDE, -CEED, & -SEDE

Spelling Rules: AI/IA Rules & words that end with a “seed” sound

Spelling is a challenge for many of us.  However, knowing some rules and how to apply them will greatly increase our spelling accuracy.  Let’s look at two more.

The rules for spelling AI/IA are similar to those for EI/IE except they tend to be a little simpler. Only three basic rules to know.

Rule #1: Use a before i when sounded as eh.  When the a and i make a single sound (when they form a digraph) then a always comes first

Here are some examples: villain; captain; certain; Britain; mountain; chieftain

Rule #2: Use I before a when sounded as uh or yuh.

Here are some examples: civilian; peculiar; familiar; partial; auxiliary; brilliant; financial; genial; Christian; beneficial           

Rule #3: Use i before a when the letters are pronounced separately.

Here are some examples: median; guardian; genial

-CEED, -CEDE, & -SEDE

Now let’s look at one other spelling application.  This one involves words that end in the “seed” sound. English has only 12 words ending with the “SEED” sound, yet they tend to cause a bit of a problem with spelling.

Let’s look at each variation separately

-SEDE: Only one word in English ends in –sede: supersede

-CEED: Only three words in the English language end in –ceed: proceed, exceed, succeed:

-CEDE: The other eight words end in –cede: accede; intercede; antecede; cede; recede; precede; concede; secede

Learning the rules of spelling will help you out when you come to a word that you’re struggling to spell.  Keep looking for more rules of spelling to come.

adapted from “Spelling Made Simple” by Sheila Henderson (Made Simple 1990)