THE STANDARD SPELLING BOOK. WITH ETYMOLOGIES, GENERAL RULES, AND EXERCISES TO BE WRITTEN FROM DICTATION. BY EBENEZER L. JONES. Manchester : JOHN HEYWOOD, 141, & 143, DEANSGATË. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL AND CO. & J. C. TAQEY. INTRODUCTION. Ir has long been felt that no part of school discipline is so irksome to the pupil, or in "results" so unsatisfactory to the teacher as that of learning to write with correct spelling and punctuation. An attempt has been made in this little book to render the lesson not only an effective one, but interesting as well; and, this is done by the introduction of numerous exercises, chiefly quotations, being a number of carefully selected phrases and sentences, containing such words as boys should reasonably be expected to know on reaching the upper standards in government schools. The compiler has for some time been using the sheets in his own school, and has been induced to print, chiefly for the purpose of securing a text book for his own scholars; he would respectfully submit to his fellow-teachers, should they feel disposed to adopt the book, the following plan for its use I. Let each pupil in the class be provided with a slate and pencil, and copy down the words in the columns as written on the blackboard by the teacher. While each word is being written half a dozen or more members of the class should spell it-a syllable at a time-aloud. This being done II. Put the slates temporarily on one side, and let the class spell the whole list from the board three or four times. III. Turn the board. The scholars having previously cleaned their slates let them proceed to write the words from memory as their teacher dictates. IV. Change slates-reverse the board and correct. V. Return the slates to their respective owners, and let the errors be all corrected, by re-writing the words from the black board: each word that has been incorrectly spelt to be copied out three or four times. The whole process will occupy a little more than half an hour. E. L. J. SUMMARY OF RULES. (1). Write mis-, and dis-, before words as they stand: thus Mis-spent Mis - trust Dis - sect Dis - close (2). Generally when a word ends in 7 and a termination is added to it one 7 is dropt; as al- most chil - blain but there are exceptions, as bell - man still-y (3). Y at the end of a word frequently becomes changed into i as-pitz - ful But in the addition of -ing to a word the y is kept as, pity-ing. (4.) Words accented on the last syllable always double the final consonant when a vowel precedes that consonant, and the affix also begins with a vowel. (5.) Generally ei comes after c sounds; ie after others: as receive re-lieve. (6.) When a syllable commencing with a vowel is added to a word, that word terminating in a vowel, the final vowel is dropt, as ap - ing. (7.) In affixing -able to a word ending in e, the e is retained after c org soft, as trace - able rat - able |