por He use of the letters «B» and «V» can confuse people with little linguistic training. This is because both characters have the same phoneme /b/. Therefore, there are a series of fairly easy rules to learn so as not to make mistakes when writing with «B» or «V».
Of course, it is necessary to take into account the respective exceptions of each of those rules. On the other hand, in the Spanish language the letter «W» (double ve or double u) also corresponds to the phoneme /b/ in specific names of Visigothic origin. Such is the case of: Wamba (bámba) or Witiza (bitísa).
Likewise, the phoneme /b/ applies with the letter «W» in German proper names. For example: Wagner (bagner), Volkswagen (bolks bagen) or Weimar (beimar). Therefore, the letter «W» pronounced with the phoneme /b/ is almost always related to words of foreign origin. Consequently, the use of the «W» does not generate as much confusion as the «B» and «V».
Spelling rules for the use of «B»
With the phonemes /bl/ and /br/
According to the Royal Academy, all sequences with the phonemes /bl/ and /br/ are always written with «bl» and «br».
examples
– Library.
– White.
– Soft.
– Blastoma.
– Bledo.
– Armored.
– Block.
– Block.
– Blouse.
– Grill.
– Braga.
– Bellow.
– Gill.
– Good.
– Arm.
– Brea.
– Bregar.
– Brief.
– Rascal.
– Brigade.
– Glow.
– Brio.
– Breeze.
– Blade.
– Curb.
– Brush.
– Broccoli.
– Bronze.
– Joker.
– Bronchitis.
– Witch.
– Haze.
– Rude.
– brutal.
– Habit.
– Double.
– Worm.
– Membranous.
– Fog.
– Words.
– Tablet.
– Tremble.
– Dark.
– Vertebrate.
Exceptions to /bl/ and /br/
In the same way, the exceptions to this rule only apply when it comes to foreign proper names. Specifically, those derived from languages such as Russian (and its sister languages), Polish and German.
examples
– Vladimir.
– Vladislav.
– Vlasy.
– Vratislavia.
Verbs whose past tense has the ending «ba»
The endings of the verbs ending in «ar» in the imperfect tense of the indicative mode «ba».
examples
– Cut – cut.
– Embrace – hugged.
– Love – loved.
– Release – dropped.
– Hear – listened.
– Explore – explored.
– Woo – courted.
– Inform – reported.
– Play – played.
– Talk – she spoke.
exception to the rule
In the same way, this norm applies to the verb «to go». For example: I was going, we were going, were going…
By recommendation or guidance standards (mnemonic)
Words beginning with the syllables «bi» or «bis»
Those that are written in reference to the number two or some double element.
examples
– Bottle.
– Bible.
– Bicapsular.
– Baking soda.
– Bug.
– Biceps.
– Bicentennial.
– Good.
– Biennial.
– Welcome.
– Biphasic.
– Bigamy.
– Moustache.
– Billiards.
– Binary.
– Binoculars.
– Biodiversity.
– Biology.
– Biomass.
– Biped.
– Bipolar.
– Bilingual.
– Bicolor.
– Great-grandson.
– Biennial.
– Great grandfather.
– Biangular.
– Forked.
– Leap year.
– Bicycle.
– Bison.
– Log.
– Scalpel.
Words with the ending «bilidad» and their similar derivatives of the suffix «ble»
examples
– Accessible – accessibility.
– Admissible – admissibility.
– Compatible – compatibility.
– Switchable – commutability.
– Accountant – accounting.
And so on in terms like:
– Dissolvability.
– Durability.
– Stability.
– Flexibility.
– Buoyancy.
– Governance.
– Habitability.
– Impassibility.
– Readability.
– Morbidity.
– Notability.
– Permeability.
– Possibility.
– Probability.
– Cost effectiveness.
– Responsibility.
– Sociability.
– Solubility.
– Variability.
– Visibility.
exception to the rule
This rule presents two exceptions: mobility and civility, which is explained because they are not derived from the suffix «ble».
Verbs with «bir» or «buir» endings
examples
– Ascribe.
– Attribute.
– Cohibit.
– Conceive.
– Contribute.
– Describe.
– To distribute.
– Write.
– Inhibit.
– Enroll.
– Ban.
– Outlaw.
– Receive.
– Increase.
– Subscribe.
– Transcribe.
Exceptions to the rule
Exceptions to this rule include:
– Live together.
– Boil.
– To revive.
– Serve.
– Survive.
– Survive.
Words with the endings «bundo» or «bunda»
examples
– Dying.
– Nauseating.
– Tramp.
After the syllables «cu», «ta» and «tur»
examples
– Cuban.
– Tray.
– Cube.
– Cubism.
– Smoking.
– Horsefly.
– Tavern.
– Partition.
– Disturbance.
– Turbo.
– Turbulence.
– Turban.
– Turbidity.
– Turbid.
In words whose first syllable is «bu» «bur» and «bus»
examples
– Loop.
– Ox.
– Buffalo.
– Scarf.
– Jester.
– Well.
– Owl.
– Bulla.
– Bunker.
– Bourgeoisie.
– Taunt.
– Donkey.
– Look for.
– Bus.
– Bust.
– Seat.
– Coverall.
In the following verbs:
– To have.
– Absorb.
– To drink.
– Duty.
– Know.
Words whose root comes from:
– Good.
– Mouth.
– Syllable.
Spelling rules in the use of the «V»
Statutory use of words with the prefix «vice»
In this case, it refers to a person with an attribution or position directly underlying the cited noun.
examples
– Vice Admiral.
– Vice Chancellor.
– Vice consul.
– Vice president.
– Vice Chancellor.
– Deputy Secretary.
– Vice Treasurer.
This rule is also observed in words like biennial (a thing or event whose duration or repetition is twenty years), twentieth (20th ordinal) and vice versa.
In words containing the letter groups «clav» or «equiv»
It is important to note that this standard does not consider the groups of letters «clav» and «equiv» as syllables.
examples
– To nail.
– Carnation.
– Clavicle.
– Peg.
– Conclave.
– Equivalent.
– Mistaken.
– Unequivocal.
Tenses of verbs whose infinitive does not contain «B» or «V»
An exception to this rule is the imperfect past tense of the indicative. Includes past indefinite forms of the following verbs.
examples
– Walk [anduve, anduvo, anduvieron, anduvisteis, anduvimos].
– Be [estuve, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron].
– Have [tuve, tuvo, tuviste, tuvimos, tuvisteis, tuvieron].
Use of the «V» in the conjugation of the verb to go
– In present indicative [voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van].
– In present subjunctive [vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan].
– imperative [ve, vaya, vayamos, vayan]. At this time it does not apply to the second person plural (you go).
Adjectives with the ending «ivo» or «iva» and their derivatives
It includes the many adjectives in Spanish with the suffixes «ivo» or «iba». Furthermore, this rule does not apply to verb forms of those ending in «bar» or «bir».
examples
– Asset.
– Administrative.
– Allusive.
– Qualifying.
– Captive.
– Billy goat.
– Digestive.
– Diminutive.
– Equitable.
– Dodge.
– Fugitive.
– Imperative.
– Introspective.
– Intuitive.
– Reason.
– Olive.
– Orientative.
– Reflexive.
– Vegetative.
After the groups of letters «ad» and «ol»
This rule is particularly noticeable at the beginning of words like:
– Advent.
– Adventist.
– Adverb.
– Adversary.
– Warning.
– Advent.
– Forgot.
In the same way, it is observed in the middle of verbs as:
– Wrap.
– Solve.
– Stir.
After the initial syllable «di»
examples
– Diva.
– Ramble.
– Couch.
– Divergence.
– Diversity.
– To diversify.
– Diversiform.
– Fun.
– Dividend.
– Split.
– Currency.
– Spot.
– Division.
– Divorce.
– Disseminate.
exception to the rule
This rule does not apply to the verb draw and its derivatives.
Words ending in «ívoro» or «ívora»
This norm is directly related to zoology terms —it means “that devours”, to specify what type of food an animal consumes—.
examples
– Carnivore.
– Frugivorous.
– Herbivore.
– Insectivorous.
– Omnivore.
exception to the rule
This does not apply to the word snake.
All words that contain the verb live as a root
examples
– Survive.
– Survive.
– Malvivir.
– Survivor.