Suffix Spelling Rules: Silent –E and Suffixes Beginning with a Vowel
by Candice Chovanec Melzow

Suffixes are letter(s) added to the ends of base words to create new words. Sometimes suffixes contribute to spelling errors because when suffixes are added to base words, the spelling of the base words may change. Suffixes that begin with a vowel (-age, -able, -al, -est, -ed, -ing, -ous, -ual, -y) can be particularly troubling, especially when they are added to a base word that ends with a silent e. However, there are a few rules that, if taken into consideration, can help you to minimize the spelling errors associated with these suffixes.

Typically, when you add a vowel suffix to a word that ends in silent e, the e is dropped and the suffix is added to the end of the word. Here are some examples:

However, special circumstances surround words that end with ce or ge. When you add vowel suffixes that begin with a or o (–able and –ous) to a word that ends with ce or ge, you should not drop the final e from the base word because the e must be kept to soften the sound of the letter before it (g, c). For example, if the silent e is unnecessarily dropped from the word embraceable, the word becomes embracable, with a hard “c” sound, like “k.” Let’s take a look at some examples of words where the silent e should be kept:

But when you add a vowel suffix that begins with an e, i or y to a word that ends with ce or ge, you should drop the final e from the base word. Here are some examples:

However, some words are exceptions to the rule above. These exceptions, which usually occur when a word ends in y, generally feature two accepted spellings. Although one spelling is usually preferred over the other, according to dictionary rules, either spelling is correct. Examples of these types of words include spacy/spacey, cagy/cagey, and lacy/lacey.

The silent e rules discussed in this grammar tip are most often true, but there are always exceptions such as the ones mentioned in the paragraph above. When in doubt, the best thing to do is to look the word up in the dictionary to make sure that you are using the accepted spelling.

Along with our website, we recommend Cuesta College’s “Eight Essential Spelling Rules” available at http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/AS/803.htm. This web page offers valuable information on a few spelling rules that can help you avoid misspelling hundreds of words.

Use the rules above to choose the correct word in the following sentences:

1. We need to buy a (rechargable, rechargeable,) battery for our digital camera.
2. The fleas on the dog were not (noticable, noticeable) because its fur was black.
3. (Spicy, spicey) foods tend to upset Logan’s stomach.
4. My history professor is very (knowledgable, knowledgeable) about Nazi Germany.
5. The mother bear became (edgy, edgey) when the photographers approached her cubs.

Answers
1. We need to buy a rechargeable battery for our digital camera.
2. The fleas on the dog were not noticeable because its fur was black.
3. Spicy foods tend to upset Logan’s stomach.
4. My history professor is very knowledgeable about Nazi Germany.
5. The mother bear became edgy when the photographers approached her cubs.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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