The Complete Guide to English Spelling Rules (37 page)

If the root word ends in
i
or in a
y
which will change to an
i,
the suffix cannot be
ible
, as we would then have a double
i
. We must use
able
.

Spelling rule #6: If the root word ends in a hard
c
or a hard
g,
it must be followed by
able
to preserve the sound of the consonant:

Words ending in
x
take
able
, with one exception.

The exception is
flexible.
There seems to be no logical reason for this exception, so let’s just say that English is a
flexible
language.

Continuity is essential when forming derivatives. If the root word can accept the suffix
ate
or
ation
, then it must use
able
:

To retain continuity when forming derivatives, if the root can accept
ion
but not
ation
, then we must use
ible:

C
HAPTER
38

Using
ous, ious, eous, uous

T
he suffix
ous,
which means
“full of or like,”
is used to create adjectives. There are many of these words, but the rules governing the use of the suffix are simple and logical. Over time, many of the root words have disappeared completely or only a portion of the root word remains, but we still have the adjective.

Spelling rule #1: In the majority of cases, the
ous
is added to the root word or a portion of the root word. Almost always, if the root ends in a consonant it will take the simple
ous:

Spelling rule #2: If the root word ends in a silent
e
, then, in most cases, the
e
is dropped.

Spelling rule #3: If the root word ends in a soft
g
followed by a silent
e
, then the
e
is retained to protect the
g
but it is still silent:

Spelling rule #4: If the root ends in a soft
c
followed by a silent
e
, then the
e
is changed to
i
and has the
sh
sound:

Spelling rule #5: If the root ends in
y
, we change the
y
to
i
and the new word will have the long
e
sound:

Note these two anomalies—
piteous
and
beauteous.
The
eous
is pronounced as two syllables,
e-ous
.

If the root ends in
c, t,
or
x,
then the suffix will be
ious
and it will have a
sh
sound. While many of the root words have disappeared, we still have the adjectives.