Why is "consider" spelled this way?

Discover the logic behind this word and learn how understanding spelling patterns can transform your writing confidence.

consider

con•sid•er

Step 1: Syllable Breakdown

conRule: O makes schwa before W, TH, M, N, VSpelling rules applied: O makes schwa before W, TH, M, N, V

sidRule: TI, CI, SI only at syllable start, not word start, Closed syllable, vowel before consonant, has short vowel soundSpelling rules applied: TI, CI, SI only at syllable start, not word start, Closed syllable, vowel before consonant, has short vowel sound

erRule: Drop silent E before vowel suffix (with exceptions), Schwa sound in unstressed syllablesSpelling rules applied: Drop silent E before vowel suffix (with exceptions), Schwa sound in unstressed syllables

Step 2: Words Spelt From consider

sider= Star or constellation.

Step 3: Putting It All Together

consider- To think carefully about something, especially before making a decision.

Spelling Notes

Let's break down 'consider' into syllables: 'con-sid-er'. Notice the 'o' in the first syllable 'con'. This is an example of Rule 28b, where 'o' can make a short 'u' (schwa) sound in an unstressed syllable. The 'i' in 'sid' is a short vowel sound because it's in a closed syllable (Rule 29), ending in a consonant. The 'er' at the end is a common unstressed suffix. Understanding these syllable patterns helps you spell words like 'consider' accurately.

Breaking words down into their syllables and analyzing why a word is spelled the way it is will drive you to be a better all-around speller, not just learning this single word. This is what strong spellers do subconsciously.

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