Grammatically Correct 8/15/06
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901

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

The last issue of Grammatically Correct focused on the rules for when suffixes beginning with a vowel are added to base words with a silent e: sometimes the silent e is dropped, but occasionally it is not.  In contrast, this grammar tip will discuss what occurs when suffixes beginning with consonants are added to base words ending with a silent e. (Some common examples of suffixes that begin with consonants are -ful ,-less, -ly, -ment and -ness.)

When a suffix that begins with a consonant is added to a word ending in silent e, the rule is not to drop the e. Here are some examples:

fate - fateful

strange - strangely

manage - management

care - careless

estrange-estrangement

unique - uniqueness

However, there are some exceptions to the rule above. Below is a table that includes some of the most common words where the silent e is dropped when a suffix that begins with a consonant is added:

awe - awful

true - truly

judge - judgment*

due - duly

whole - wholly

acknowledge - acknowledgment*

invariable - invariably

amiable - amiably

argue - argument

Note that the words with the asterisk (*) are spelled correctly either way: judgment or judgement; acknowledgment or acknowledgement. However, the preferred spelling is the one where the silent e is dropped.

Remember, if you are uncertain about how to spell a word, it is best to consult the dictionary to make sure that you are spelling it correctly.
Definitions

base word (n) a word to which a suffix is added to form a new word.

suffix (n) a letter or letters added to the end of a word to form a new word.

Definitions adapted from The Longman Advanced American Dictionary.

Reference

Strumpf, Michael, and Auriel Douglas.  The Grammar Bible. Los Angeles: Knowledgeopolis, 1999.

 
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by Candice Chovanec Melzow

Along with our website, we recommend Southampton College of Long Island University’s “Preparation for an American University Program Vocabulary Workshop” at http://www.southampton.liu.edu/academic/pau/course/websuf.htm. This web page features a list of over 50 of the most common suffixes in the English language, complete with examples and definitions.
Test Your Knowledge
by Candice Chovanec Melzow

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

1. We stood looking at the colossal statue in (amazment, amazement)
2. The view from the summit of Pike’s Peak was (awsome, awesome).
3. The (strangness, strangeness) of Jack’s encounter soon wore off.
4. The employees were truly (gratful, grateful) for the bonus checks that they received.
5. I was disappointed with the novel’s (abridgment, abridgement).

Answers
1. We stood looking at the colossal statue in amazement.
2. The view from the summit of Pike’s Peak was awesome.
3. The strangeness of Jack’s encounter soon wore off.
4. The employees were truly grateful for the bonus checks that they received.
5. I was disappointed with the novel’s abridgment/abridgement.  [Either spelling is correct.]

 

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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