Spelling and Grammar · Webster's Elementary Spelling Book

The Elementary Spelling Book, being an Improvement on the American Spelling Book

Noah Webster's "blue-backed speller", from the key to the sounds and the first syllables (ba, be, bi) to words of eight syllables, with the fables and the rules for spelling. 142 short guides cover the whole book, for children about 5 to 10, each with the right page of the book beside it.

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How to use it

  • A little, every day. About 10 to 15 minutes a day is plenty. Some guides take two or three days; the guide says so.
  • Out loud. Webster's method is to read every word aloud and spell it aloud, a syllable at a time: "b, a, ba; k, e, r, ker; baker." The guides keep that habit.
  • Use the key. The book marks vowel sounds with small signs, and the line of key words across the top of every page shows what each sign means. The first guides teach it.
  • Cards for hard words. Any word missed in dictation goes on a card. Review the cards for a minute or two each day, and retire a card after three right days in a row.
  • Move on when it's easy. Repeat a table until your child reads and spells it without stumbling, then go on. Young children can skip the hardest words in the long tables and come back later.

Part 1 The key to the sounds and the alphabet

How the book marks every vowel sound, the key line at the top of each page, and the letters themselves. Lessons 1–4.

  1. 1How the book marks long and short vowelsAnalysis of Sounds✓
  2. 2The other vowel marksAnalysis of Sounds✓
  3. 3The key line at the top of every pageKey to the Pronunciation✓
  4. 4The alphabet and the names of the lettersAlphabet✓

Part 2 First syllables

Nos. 1 to 11: two- and three-letter syllables, then blends, read and spelled aloud. Lessons 5–9.

  1. 5First syllables: ba, be, bi, bo, bu, byNos. 1–2✓
  2. 6More syllables, then the vowel first: ab, eb, ibNos. 3–4✓
  3. 7Short-vowel syllables: aj, ak, al, ar, ok, ulNos. 5–7✓
  4. 8Two consonants together: bla, fla, pra, tra, cha, shaNos. 8–9✓
  5. 9More blends: pha, qua, spa, sta, spla, straNos. 10–11✓

Part 3 Short words

Nos. 12 to 25: three-letter words, silent e, and words ending in two consonants. Lessons 10–15.

  1. 10Real words: cab, fib, hob, log, mudNos. 12–13✓
  2. 11Short-vowel words: hem, gum, men, fin, lap, ripNos. 14–16✓
  3. 12Silent e makes the vowel long: babe, hide, cakeNos. 17–18✓
  4. 13More silent-e words: rule, tame, ripe, hope, boneNos. 19–21✓
  5. 14Two consonants at the end: lamp, help, drift, plantNos. 22–24✓
  6. 15Words ending in -pt, -rt, -st: apt, cart, hurt, keptNo. 25✓

Part 4 Accent, blends and new sounds

Nos. 26 to 49: the first two-syllable words, then ee, oo, ck, double letters, plurals, dge, oi and ou. Lessons 16–29.

  1. 16Two syllables, accented on the first: baker, ladyNo. 26✓
  2. 17Blends at the start: crib, grub, trap, spin, splitNos. 27–29✓
  3. 18Endings -nd, -ld, -ch, -tch: hand, gold, bunch, matchNos. 30–31✓
  4. 19Two syllables, accented on the second: away, enjoyNo. 32✓
  5. 20Double e: deed, feed, sheep, steer, queenNos. 33–34✓
  6. 21Double o: room, moon, pool, goose, chooseNo. 35✓
  7. 22Words ending in ck and k: back, quick, ink, markNos. 36–38✓
  8. 23Words with r, and double f and l: barn, corn, staff, ballNos. 39–40✓
  9. 24Double letters at the end: tell, kill, hill, kiss, crossNos. 41–42✓
  10. 25One and more than one: egg, eggs; bell, bellsNo. 43✓
  11. 26Two syllables, accented on the first: candy, velvet, moneyNo. 44✓
  12. 27Endings -dge, -nge, -tch: edge, bridge, judge, fringeNos. 45–46✓
  13. 28S that sounds like z, and oi: rose, wise, coin, noiseNos. 47–48✓
  14. 29ou and ow: cloud, owl, brown, gownNo. 49✓

Part 5 Vowel pairs and light syllables

Nos. 50 to 68: ea, ai, oa and aw, longer words, and vowels that are said lightly. Lessons 30–42.

  1. 30Vowel pairs: sea, read, aid, loaf, teach, coachNos. 50–51✓
  2. 31More vowel pairs: break, oak, nail, dream, grainNos. 52–53✓
  3. 32Three syllables, and a marking exercise: botany, colonyNo. 54✓
  4. 33Long vowels with blends: blade, bride, globe, placeNo. 55✓
  5. 34Two syllables: hovel, anvil, marvel, pepperNo. 56✓
  6. 35More vowel pairs: year, fair, saint, dew, flewNos. 57–59✓
  7. 36The aw sound, and long vowels: yawn, broad, brine, shapeNos. 60–61✓
  8. 37Three syllables, accented on the first: amity, vanity, dignityNo. 62✓
  9. 38Three syllables, accented on the second: amazement, adventureNo. 63✓
  10. 39Words ending in -ish: rubbish, finish, cherishNo. 64✓
  11. 40Unmarked vowels that are not full: senate, palate, privateNos. 65–66✓
  12. 41Four syllables, accented on the first: military, accuracyNo. 67✓
  13. 42Three syllables, accented on the second: immortal, eternalNo. 68✓

Part 6 Where the accent falls

Nos. 69 to 92: two-, three- and four-syllable words accented on the first, second or last syllable. Lessons 43–62.

  1. 43ay, oy, aw, and o that sounds like u: play, boy, claw, comeNos. 69–72✓
  2. 44Two syllables with double consonants: ladder, fodderNo. 73✓
  3. 45Two syllables, long first vowel: major, labor, quietNo. 74✓
  4. 46Three syllables, accented on the second: arrival, recitalNo. 75✓
  5. 47Three syllables, accented on the last: intervene, overreachNo. 76✓
  6. 48Two syllables: copy, hurry, happy, honorNo. 77✓
  7. 49Three syllables, accented on the first: punishment, interestNo. 78✓
  8. 50Four syllables, accented on the second: interior, antiquityNo. 79✓
  9. 51Two syllables: muslin, kitchen, chicken, bucketNo. 80✓
  10. 52Table No. 81: read, spell and writeNo. 81✓
  11. 53Four and three syllables: literature, agriculture, narrativeNos. 82–83✓
  12. 54Compound words: bonfire, empire, hardware, bagpipeNo. 84✓
  13. 55Three syllables, accented on the first: porcupine, javelinNo. 85✓
  14. 56Two syllables, accented on the second: compel, forget, regretNo. 86✓
  15. 57Two syllables ending in -al: formal, central, dental, mortalNo. 87✓
  16. 58Vowel pairs in longer words: chieftain, pewter, beaver, mayorNo. 88✓
  17. 59Two syllables, accented on the second: address, distress, unjustNo. 89✓
  18. 60Four syllables, accented on the second: terrestrial, illiterateNo. 90✓
  19. 61Words ending in -ire: admire, inspire, require, expireNo. 91✓
  20. 62Two syllables, accented on the second: between, ordain, disdainNo. 92✓

Part 7 Long words and common endings

Nos. 93 to 126: words of four to eight syllables, and endings such as -tion, -ity, -ous and -ate. Lessons 63–92.

  1. 63Four syllables, accent on the third: entertainment, indecisiveNo. 93✓
  2. 64Three syllables, unmarked for practice: cinnamon, gridironNo. 94✓
  3. 65Two syllables, accented on the secondNo. 95✓
  4. 66Th, two ways: three, north, smith, slothNo. 96✓
  5. 67Two syllables: Tuesday, Wednesday, concert, veryNo. 97✓
  6. 68ow that says long o: borrow, elbow, fellow, followNo. 98✓
  7. 69Two syllables: seizure, treatise, likewise, oatmealNo. 99✓
  8. 70Four syllables ending in -ous: anonymous, unanimousNo. 100✓
  9. 71Words ending in -ity: prosperity, severity, agilityNo. 101✓
  10. 72Five syllables ending in -ory: explanatory, preparatoryNo. 102✓
  11. 73Very long words, then three syllables: liberality, benefitNos. 103–104✓
  12. 74Five syllables, accented on the third: opportunity, probabilityNo. 105✓
  13. 75Words ending in -tion and -sion: vacation, expansionNo. 106✓
  14. 76Four syllables ending in -tion: publication, navigationNo. 107✓
  15. 77Three syllables ending in -ite: definite, opposite, appetiteNo. 108✓
  16. 78Two syllables, accented on the second: condense, immense, defenseNo. 109✓
  17. 79Three syllables, accented on the second: retirement, concealmentNo. 110✓
  18. 80Words ending in -ate: estimate, nominate, advocateNo. 111✓
  19. 81Two and three syllables: curtain, dolphin, citadel, paradiseNos. 112–113✓
  20. 82The sound of a in all: author, saucy; and missive, stockingNos. 114–115✓
  21. 83Two syllables ending in -tion and -sion: motion, mention, pensionNo. 116✓
  22. 84Words ending in -graphy and -cracy: geography, democracyNo. 117✓
  23. 85Four syllables, accented on the second: oblivion, diagonalNo. 118✓
  24. 86Four syllables, accented on the second: diameter, ambassadorNo. 119✓
  25. 87Four syllables: luxurious, mysterious, obedient, laboriousNo. 120✓
  26. 88The longest words: individuality, incompatibilityNo. 121✓
  27. 89Th with its breathy sound: thirteen, thousand, zenithNo. 122✓
  28. 90Th with its vocal sound, and -ish words: mother, establishNos. 123–124✓
  29. 91Five syllables, accented on the third: ceremonial, testimonialNo. 125✓
  30. 92Short words with final consonants: twelve, shelf, self, cashNo. 126✓

Part 8 Special sounds

The end of No. 126 to No. 146: th, wh, x, zh, soft and hard c and g, ng, silent letters, and French spellings. Lessons 93–111.

  1. 93Th in one and in more than one: the end of No. 126No. 126✓
  2. 94Wh, and silent w: whale, whenNo. 127✓
  3. 95X that sounds like gzNo. 128✓
  4. 96Tion said like chun, and i said like yNo. 129✓
  5. 97The zh sound: sier, zier, sion, siaNo. 130✓
  6. 98More endings said a special wayNo. 131✓
  7. 99G that stays hard before e, i and y: get, giveNo. 132✓
  8. 100C and g at the end of a strong syllable: tragic, agile, acidNo. 133✓
  9. 101Ce, ci, ti and si said as sh: conscience, captiousNo. 134✓
  10. 102Ci and ti as sh: precious, special, ambition, deliciousNo. 135✓
  11. 103Ci and ti as she; words ending in -ic and -icalNos. 136–137✓
  12. 104Words ending in -ic: magic, tragic, alphabetic, energeticNo. 137✓
  13. 105Light endings: citizen, garrison, venisonNo. 138✓
  14. 106Words in -ize; and ng: characterize, sing, longNos. 139–140✓
  15. 107The ng sound, and n that sounds like ng: singing, anger, angleNo. 140✓
  16. 108Words ending in -ture: capture, creature, featureNo. 141✓
  17. 109Silent g and k before n: gnat, gnaw, knack, kneadNo. 142✓
  18. 110Ch said as sh, and ea said as short e: chaise, bread, healthNos. 143–144✓
  19. 111Silent g, and g sounded again: sign, signifyNos. 145–146✓

Part 9 Reading lessons and fables

No. 147: short pieces about animals, the fables, and a lesson on the calendar. Lessons 112–117.

  1. 112Reading: The Dog and The StagNo. 147✓
  2. 113Fable I: The Boy that Stole ApplesFable I✓
  3. 114Fable II: The Country Maid and her Milk PailFable II✓
  4. 115Fable III: The Two DogsFable III✓
  5. 116Fable VII: The Bear and the Two FriendsFable VII✓
  6. 117Reading: the days, weeks and months, and the SabbathReading lesson✓

Part 10 Words alike and irregular spellings

Nos. 148 and 149: words that sound or look alike, and words not spelled as they sound. Lessons 118–126.

  1. 118Words nearly alike: accept, except; affect, effectNo. 148✓
  2. 119Same spelling, different word; same sound, different spellingNo. 148✓
  3. 120Words said alike, spelled differently: ascent, assent; die, dyeNo. 148✓
  4. 121More sound-alike words: sun, son; their, there; two, tooNo. 148✓
  5. 122Sound-alike words in sentencesNo. 148✓
  6. 123More sound-alike sentences, and reviewNo. 148✓
  7. 124Irregular spellings: any, many, ghost, half, yachtNo. 149✓
  8. 125Silent letters: talk, walk; rough, cough; rhyme, rhubarbNo. 149✓
  9. 126More odd spellings: calm, psalm; dungeon; tongue; ought, broughtNo. 149✓

Part 11 Rules for spelling, numbers and marks

No. 150 to No. 151: rules for -ed, -ing and plurals, prefixes and suffixes, numbers, abbreviations, punctuation, capitals, and ei and ie. Lessons 127–138.

  1. 127Rules for adding -ed and -ing: when to doubleNo. 150✓
  2. 128Rules for -ed and -ing, continued: travel, abdicate, carryNo. 150✓
  3. 129Rules for plurals: dresses, flies, valleysNo. 150✓
  4. 130More plurals, and words made with -ly, -ness, -lessNo. 150✓
  5. 131Endings -ful and -ist, and prefixes: ante, be, dis, foreNo. 150✓
  6. 132More prefixes: non, out, over, pre, re, un; and wise sayingsNo. 150✓
  7. 133Numbers: figures, Roman letters and namesNumbers✓
  8. 134Words and phrases from foreign languages optionalForeign phrases✓
  9. 135Abbreviations explained optionalAbbreviations✓
  10. 136Punctuation: comma, semicolon, colon, periodPunctuation✓
  11. 137Capital letters; q; and silent t: listen, oftenNo. 151✓
  12. 138Ei and ie with the sound of long e: receive, believeEi and ie✓

Part 12 Words difficult to spell

No. 152: four pages of common words that are often misspelled. Lessons 139–142.

  1. 139Words difficult to spell, part 1No. 152✓
  2. 140Words difficult to spell, part 2No. 152✓
  3. 141Words difficult to spell, part 3No. 152✓
  4. 142Words difficult to spell, part 4No. 152✓

The book itself

Webster's Elementary Spelling Book

1880 printing · Reading and spelling by sound, about ages 5 to 10

The alphabet, syllables, then word lists from short words to long ones, with reading lessons and short fables along the way.

🧑‍🏫 Teaching guides ⬇ Download PDF (10.6 MB) Internet Archive ↗

Scanned from a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill copy.

Each guide covers one or a few of the book's numbered tables (No. 1, No. 2...) or one of its reading lessons, shown beside the title. The guides are written for this site; the book is in the public domain.

@teddyrookbook GitHub