Spelling Changes When Suffixes Are Added

Recognize base words even after suffixes change their spelling.

Suffixes sometimes change the spelling of a base word, which can hide a word you already know. Three rules cause most changes. First, drop the final silent e before a suffix starting with a vowel: create becomes creative, hope becomes hoping. Second, double the final consonant of a short word with one short vowel before a vowel suffix: stop becomes stopped, begin becomes beginning. Third, change final y to i before most suffixes: happy becomes happiness, rely becomes reliable, deny becomes denial.

There are also bigger root changes, such as 'pronounce' becoming 'pronunciation' and 'explain' becoming 'explanation'. When reading, reverse the change to find the base. 'Justifiable' looks strange until you change the i back to y: justify + -able, can be justified. 'Admittance' becomes admit + -ance. Reversing the rules turns unfamiliar spellings into familiar friends.

• 1Drop silent e before a vowel suffix.
• 2Double a final consonant after one short vowel.
• 3Change y to i before most suffixes.