What aspect do transitional spellers begin to apply while spelling words?

Transitional spellers demonstrate an important shift in their writing and spelling abilities as they begin to apply the rules of conventional English phonology. This means that they start recognizing and utilizing the patterns and sounds associated with letters and letter combinations in the English language. Rather than relying solely on phonetics or sound-based spelling, which may lead to errors or unconventional spellings, transitional spellers become more consistent in their application of established spelling conventions. This includes understanding letter-sound relationships, recognizing patterns in spelling, and applying common spelling rules that are characteristic of standard English.

In contrast, other options reflect different stages or approaches to spelling that do not align with the transition process. Phonetic spelling focuses more on the sounds rather than the conventional rules, while sound-based spelling without logic lacks the structuring characteristic of transitional spelling. Visual representation of letters does not encompass the phonological aspect that transitional spelling involves, as visual cues do not account for the application of sound patterns and spelling conventions.