Spelling
it Right

vowels1
Focus Words

information

definition

consolation

relative

exploration

cigarette

preservation

library

sedative

imaginative


Click here for:

List of exercises
Advice
Home Page
Contact us
       When a vowel sound isn't stressed then it's often difficult
    to work out how to spell it.
    Read the following words and listen to way you say the
    underlined vowels:
         relative                  cigarette                information
    The chances are you didn't pronounce them very clearly and you might guess that any of the vowels would fit:
    a; e; i; o; or u.

    Here's a tip: if you're not sure about a vowel sound then try to think of another word which comes from the same root.
    You might be lucky and find one in which the vowel is stressed
    and this will help you.
    relative           relation                (the -a- is stressed)
    cigarette         cigar                   (the -a- is stressed)
    information      inform                (the -or- is stressed)

    1.  Put the missing vowels in the following words. Then copy the whole word in the third column.  
     define  def_nition

     sedate  sed_tive

     explore  expl_ration

     console  cons_lation

     preservation  preserv_tive


    2.  Now memorize the focus words and test yourself. Concentrate particularly on the underlined vowels.
    USA Spelling Books
    UK Spelling Books
    Canada Spelling Books
    <--- Click the appropriate link on the left for my list of recommended spelling books available from Amazon.
    Roger Smith