Spelling Science Terms

Question

How can I learn to spell science vocabulary. The words can be long and complex. It is important that I know the correct spelling of these words for standardized, high-stakes testing.

Answer 1

Identifying the “root” of “base” word, and knowing basic prefixes and suffixes is a good place to start. You can build the word up from there.

Ex: condense (root word)

condensed(suffix ed added)

condensation (suffix ation added)

As you write about a science-related topic, you may be shifting back and forth between tenses and word forms, so it is important to know the base of the word. Spelling multisyllabic words containing prefixes and suffixes will not seem as daunting if you can build from the root.

Possessing automaticity of the spelling of common prefixes and suffixes is very helpful as well.

Ex: “vore”

If you have memorized the order of the letters of this suffix, you can focus on the first part of the word when asked to spell it.

carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore

If you need the words broken down more, use syllable rules. An effective one to use that applies to many scientific terms is the VC/CV syllable division rule- If two consonant sounds are between two vowel sounds, divide between the two consonants.

Ex: magnet

magnet

mag/net

Focus on spelling the first part(syllable) of the word, then tackle the next part If you pay attention to how we pronounce a word, you will recognize that you already possess this knowledge through speaking.

Ex: We pronounce the word mag/net, not magn/et.

Looking for prefixes and suffixes and building on words helps here as well. Once you know how to spell magnet, you can add the suffix “ism” to create the word magnetism.

The aforementioned tips make the assumption that you have at least a rudimentary understanding of letter-sound correspondence. If you have not acquired this skill, you may require more intensive instruction and intervention.

Unless you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, most standardized, high-stakes tests won.t allow the use of spell- check or a dictionary. The good news is-some give you some latitude, as long as your writing is comprehensible.

Ex: You spell “precipitation” as “presipetation”, but the word is recognizable within the context of the subject matter.