1. An apostrophe indicates either possession (e.g., MOTHER'S) or contraction (e.g., DON'T). A single letter following an apostrophe is usually "S" or "T" (rarely, "D"). If you choose "T", the letter before the apostrophe must be "N".

2. A one-letter word is either "I" or "A".

3. With two-letter words, look at the vowels. "A" or "I" can start a two-letter word, but never end it. "E" can end a two-letter word, but never start one. "O" can both start and end a two-letter word. "U" is either "US" or "UP".

4. Three-letter words often end with "E": "THE" and "ARE"; or start with "A": "AND" and "ARE"; or have "A" in the middle: "WAS", "CAN", "HAS", and "HAD".

5. "E" is the most common letter in the language. It will end a lot of long words, or come as the second to the last letter, like "-ED", "-EN", and "-ER".

6. Double letters, if they are vowels, are "-EE" and "-OO", never "-AA", "II", "-UU" (or almost never, unless you are an AARDVARK in HAWAII VACUUMING).

7. A four-letter word that begins and ends with the same letter is often "THAT".