The Complete Guide to English Spelling Rules (15 page)

The currently incorrect past tense
shrinked
is often used in place of
shrunk
. It is interesting to note that when the past tense is used incorrectly, it is often a rejection of an irregularity and a clear preference for a version that follows the spelling rules.

Finally, please note that there is extraordinary confusion over
lie
and
lay
. Even the dictionaries agree to disagree. Perhaps it would help to bear in mind that
“chickens lay and people lie.”

C
HAPTER 11

Prefixes and Suffixes

T
he number of suffixes and prefixes (together called affixes) in the English language is truly astonishing. There are over fifty of Latin origin, over fifty of Greek origin, about a dozen of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a few from other languages, including Arabic.

These additions to the original root words are so common and so firmly entrenched in the language that often they are hard to recognize, as in the following common words. Which part of the word is the root, and which is the affix?

There are numerous more easily recognized prefixes and suffixes, and we use them enthusiastically wherever and whenever we can. The rules governing their use are quite simple.

The spelling rule is that the root word and the affix are not changed but simply linked.

Note that there are exceptions. There are times when the
y
must be changed to
i:

when the silent
e
must be dropped:

or the final consonant must be doubled:

These changes are explained in other chapters.

C
HAPTER 12

Single or Double
l

T
here are a number of prefixes and suffixes that contain a double
l
. For example:

Finally, please note that there is extraordinary confusion over lie and lay. Even the dictionaries agree to disagree. Perhaps it would help to bear in mind that “chickens lay and people lie.”

Although these affixes are quite common, there is often confusion as to when to retain the extra l. The spelling rule is quite simple:

In all but a very few cases, the second
l
is dropped.

Considering the many hundreds of words that include these prefixes and suffixes, it sometimes seems that they are never used with the double
l
. This is almost always true. Note, for example, that when
full, well,
and
all
are used as suffixes or prefixes. they are always spelled with only one
l:

At times it may look as if the double
l
is retained. This is not the case. When the suffix
ly
is added, the extra
l
is dropped so there are not three
l’s
in a row:

Hyphenated words retain the double l: