ATI TEAS Study Manual - English Conventions

Conventions of Standard English Spelling and Punctuation

Importance of Correct Spelling

  • Clear written communication relies heavily on correct spelling.
  • Examples of confusion: aural vs oral.
    • Aural refers to the ear while oral refers to the mouth.
  • Misuse of homophones and homographs can lead to misunderstandings.

Spelling Rules to Know

Common Spelling Rules

  1. “i” before “e” rule:

    • Generally, write i before e except after c or when it sounds like a (e.g., neighbor, weigh).
    • Exceptions:
      • Believe, ceiling, beige, codeine, hygiene, conceit, rein, leisure, friend, receive, sleigh, caffeine.

  2. Drop the final “e”:

    • If adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (e.g., advise + ing = advising).
    • Retain the e before a consonant suffix (e.g., nice + ly = nicely).

  3. Double the final consonant:

    • If a stressed vowel precedes the consonant in a stressed syllable, double the consonant before adding a suffix (e.g., prefer becomes preferred).
    • Exceptions include words where the final syllable is unstressed (e.g., traveling vs travelling).

  4. Change final “y” to “i”:

    • Change y to i before a suffix when preceded by a consonant (e.g., happy + ness = happiness). Keep y if the suffix begins with i.
    • Examples: cry -> crying, shy -> shyly.

Rules for Forming Plurals

  • Adding -s to regular nouns (e.g., cat ➔ cats).
  • Adding -es to words ending in ch, s, sh, x, or z (e.g., bus ➔ buses).
  • Changing -f or -fe to -ves for some nouns (e.g., leaf ➔ leaves).

Identifying Homophones and Homographs

  • Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different meanings (e.g., to, two, too).
    • Example: their vs there vs they're.
  • Homographs: Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings or pronunciations (e.g., lead as in guiding vs lead as in the metal).

Practice Problems

  • Identify errors based on homophones, misspellings, and grammatical rules in given sentences to improve editing skills.

Conventions of Standard English Punctuation

Importance of Punctuation

  • Acts as road signs for written language; helps clarify meaning in writing.
  • Mastery allows clear and effective writing.

Key Punctuation Rules

  1. Commas:

    • Separate items in a series and preceding conjunctions in compound sentences.
    • Used after introductory phrases.
    • Rule variation exists for the Oxford comma (before "and").
    • Example:
      • I bought apples, oranges, and bananas. (Oxford comma: optional)

  2. Direct vs. Indirect Quotations:

    • Direct quotes require quotation marks.
    • Indirect quotes do not require quotation marks, but source citation is necessary.
    • Example:
      • Direct: “I love reading,” she said.
      • Indirect: She said she loves reading.

  3. Sentence Types:

    • Simple Sentence: Contains one independent clause.
    • Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
    • Compound Sentence: Contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
    • Punctuation Patterns: Understanding how to use periods, commas, and other punctuation marks correctly contributes to clear meaning.

Practice Problems

  • Exercises focusing on identifying correct punctuation usage in various types of sentences.

Additional Grammar Conventions

  • Complete Sentences: Must have a subject and predicate; avoid fragments.
  • Transitions: Use transition words to clarify relationships between ideas.
  • Diction: Choose precise language to convey the intended tone and mood effectively.

Final Note

  • Regular practice with spelling, punctuation, and grammar rules will enhance clarity in writing, crucial for both TEAS and practical communication.