Chapter 14
The Correct Spelling
There are certain simple rules while forming new words from existing words. In this chapter we will demonstrate some of them.
- To add a suffix like ed, ing, er, and est, that begin with a vowel to a word ending with a consonant simply double the final consonant when the last syllable is stressed and join the suffix.
Examples
Beg + ed = Begged |
Begin + ing = Beginning |
Run + ing = Running |
Permit + ed = Permitted |
Rob + er = Robber |
Occur + ed = Occurred |
Sad + est = Saddest |
Control + er = Controller |
The consonant is not doubled if the last syllable is not stressed.
Example
Benefit + ed = Benefited |
Suffer + ing = Suffering |
Exceptions (In the following words although the last syllable is not stressed the final consonant is doubled.)
Worship + ed = Worshipped |
Handicap + ed = Handicapped |
Kidnap + er = Kidnapper |
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- If the last consonant is l then it is doubled even if the stress does not fall on the last syllable.
Examples
Quarrel + ed = Quarrelled |
Signal + ing = Signalling |
Travel + er = Traveller |
Distil + er = Distiller |
Exception (The l is not doubled)
Parallel + ed = Paralleled |
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- When a word is ending with ll and the suffix ful is added to it, the second l is dropped.
Examples
Skill + ful = Skilful |
Will + ful = Wilful |
- In the case of words ending in a silent e (the e is not pronounced), the e is dropped before the suffix beginning with a vowel.
Examples
Live + ing = Living |
Move + ed = Moved |
Hope + ing = Hoping |
Drive = er = Driver |
- In the case of words ending in a silent e, the e remains where the suffix begins with a consonant.
Examples
Hope + ful = Hopeful |
Engage + ment = Engagement |
Exceptions (here the e is removed in spite of the suffix beginning with a consonant)
True = ly = Truly |
Whole + ly = Wholly |
Due = ly = Duly |
Nine + th = Ninth |
Argue + ment = Argument |
Awe + ful = Awful |
- In the case of words ending with ce or ge , the e is retained when adding able and ous. In such words the c and g are pronounced soft before e and sometimes the e is retained to avoid confusion with a similar word.
Examples
Notice + able = Noticeable |
Courage + ous = Courageous |
Change + able = Changeable |
Singe + ing = Singeing (to
differentiate from singing) |
Peace + able = Peaceable |
Swinge + ing = Swingeing (to
differentiate from swinging) |
- In the case of words ending with ee the e is not dropped before the suffix.
Examples
See + ing = Seeing |
Agree + ment = Agreement |
- In the case of words ending in ie, the ie changes into y before the suffix.
Examples
Die + ing = Dying |
Tie + ing = Tying |
Lie + ing = Lying |
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- In the case of words ending with y after a consonant, the y changes to i before the suffix when the suffix is not ing.
Examples
Happy + ly = Happily |
Carry + ed = Carried |
Beauty + ful = Beautiful |
Marry + age = Marriage |
Where the suffix is ing the y does not change.
Examples
Carry + ing = Carrying |
Marry + ing = Marrying |
- In the case of words ending with y after a vowel, the y does not changebefore the suffix.
Examples
Pray + ed = Prayed |
Play + er = Player |
Exceptions (here the y changes to i)
Pay + ed = Paid |
Day + ly = Daily |
Say + ed = Said |
Gay + ly = Gaily |
Lay + ed = Laid |
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- In the case of words where ie or ei is pronounced ee as in deep, i comes before e except when it is after c.
Examples
Believe |
Receive |
Relieve |
Receipt |
Achieve |
Device |
Grieve |
Deceit |
Yield |
Conceive |
Field |
Conceit |
Exceptions
Seize |
Surfeit |
Weird |
Counterfeit |
Protein |
Plebeian |
Note:
We all know that the vowels in the English alphabet are a, e, i, o, u. The three words where the vowels come in the same order are abstemious, arsenious and facetious. |