The following rules will be found of great assistance in writing,
because they relate to a class of words about the spelling of which
doubt and hesitation are frequently felt:
i. All words of one syllable ending in _l_, with a single vowel
before it, have double _l_ at the close; as, _mill_, _sell_.
ii. All words of one syllable ending in _l_, with a double vowel
before it, have one _l_ only at the close: as, _mail_, _sail_.
iii. Words of one syllable ending in _l_, when compounded, retain
but one _l_ each; as, _fulfil_, _skilful_.
iv. Words of more than one syllable ending in _l_ have one _l_ only
at the close; as, _delightful_, _faithful_; except _befall_,
_downfall_, _recall_, _unwell_, &c.
v. All derivatives from words ending in _l_ have one _l_ only; as,
_equality_, from _equal_; _fulness_, from _full_; except they end
in _er_ or _ly_; as, _mill_, _miller_; _full_, _fully_.
vi. All participles in _ing_ from verbs ending in _e_ lose the
_e_ final; as _have, having; amuse, amusing;_ unless they come
from verbs ending in double _e_, and then they retain, both; as,
_see, seeing; agree, agreeing._
vii. All adverbs in _ly_ and nouns in _ment_ retain the _e_ final
of the primitives; as, _brave, bravely; refine, refinement;_
except _acknowledgment, judgment,_ &c.
viii. All derivatives from words ending in _er_ retain the _e_
before the _r;_ as, _refer, reference;_ except _hindrance,_ from
_hinder; remembrance_ from _remember; disastrous_ from _disaster;
monstrous_ from _monster; wondrous_ from _wonder; cumbrous_ from
_cumber,_ &c.
ix. Compound words, if both end not in _i_, retain their primitive
parts entire; as, _millstone, changeable, graceless;_ except
_always, also, deplorable, although, almost, admirable,_ &c.
x. All words of one syllable ending in a consonant, with a single
vowel before it, double that consonant in derivatives; as, _sin,
sinner; ship, shipping; big, bigger; glad, gladder,_ &c.
xi. Words of one syllable ending in a consonant, with a double vowel
before it, do not double the consonant in derivatives: as, _sleep,
sleepy; troop, troopers._
xii. All words of more than one syllable ending in a single
consonant, preceded by a single vowel, and accented on the last
syllable, double that consonant in derivatives; as, _commit,
committee; compel, compelled; appal, appalling; distil,
distiller._
xiii. Nouns of one syllable ending in _y_ preceded by a consonant,
change _y_ into _ies_ in the plural; and verbs ending in _y_,
preceded by a consonant, change _y_ into _ies_ in the third person
singular of the present tense, and into _ied_ in the past tense
and past participle, as, _fly, flies; I apply, he applies; we
reply, we replied, or have replied._ If the _y_ be preceded by a
vowel, this rule is not applicable; as _key, keys; I play, he
plays;_ we have _enjoyed_ ourselves.
xiv. Compound words whose primitives end in _y_ change _y_ into _i_;
as, _beauty, Beautiful; lovely, loveliness._