Orthography / As Outlined in the State Course of Study for Illinois

by Elmer W. Cavins

Since the rule given for the work of the first month, seventh year, and that given for the second month, are counterparts, each of the other, I prefer to take them together. Knowing that “silent final e is dropped when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added”, we naturally infer its counterpart, viz.: “Silent final e is retained when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added.”

To bring about the necessary drill and insure attention to the application of the rule, I suggest that a class of pupils, reciting by turns, spell at least twenty-five words according to the following model. [The words are on the board in this form: love + able, care + less.]

“The suffix able begins with the vowel a; therefore when it is added to the word love the final silent e is dropped, and the word is spelled lovable.” Or,

“The suffix less begins with the consonant l; therefore, when it is added to the word care the final silent e is not dropped, and the word is spelled careless.”

Words to be spelled according to this model should be mixed,—those in which the suffix to be added begins with a vowel mixed with those in which the suffix begins with a consonant. Exceptions ought to be thrown into the mixture, and when a pupil comes to an exception, he can proceed according to the model, concluding with, “but this word is an exception to the rule”.

Fifty words are here given to illustrate this rule, but pupils who want to do thorough work should spell several such fifties.

[First Month.]

love–able	adventure–ous	decide–ing
care–less	change–ing	ice–berg
blame–able	extreme–ly	house–keeper
achieve–ment	fickle–ness	idle–ness
brake–man	fdore–cast	excite–ment
cure–able	compare–able	console–able
discourage–ment	continue–ally	endure–ance
prove–able	contrive–ance	amaze–ment
move–able	guide–ance	fierce–ness
acquire–ing	forgive–ness	peace–ful
else–where	hate–ful	deface–ment
enlarge–ment	believe–ing	disgrace–ful
admire–able	converse–ed	blue–ish
abide–ing	hedge–hog	lodge–ing
advertise–ment	achieve–ing	amuse–ment
eye–brow	hoarse–ness	dine–ing
pursue–ing	argue–ing	revenge–ful

EXCEPTIONS.

Words ending in ce and ge retain the e when a suffix beginning with a or o is added.