When several rules appear relevant, begin with the more specific morphological evidence.
1. Establish the original radicals.
2. Separate root letters from form markers.
3. Determine person, number, gender, tense/mood, and voice.
4. Explain the precise deletion, substitution, or assimilation.
FormWrong shortcutSounder evidence
أَكَلَEvery hamzah is a prefixHamzah is a root radical
أَقَامَEvery hamzah is a radicalForm IV of ق و م
عَلَّمَEvery shaddah means doubled rootForm II of ع ل م
مَدَّEvery shaddah means Form IIDoubled root م د د
A correct conclusion needs multiple independent clues.