Drop the 'e' spelling rule
Drop the 'e' rule is a very useful rule but like all rules there are exceptions.
We usually drop the 'e' at the end of words when adding an ending that begins with a vowel: -ing, -ed, -er, -able, -ous, -ible, ious.
write + ing = writing, hope + ed = hoped, excite + able = excitable
Drop the 'e' with -ing: make — making, have — having, write — writing, love — loving, come — coming, use — using
(BUT not with be - being, see - seeing)
Check out the shorty video on the Drop the ‘e’ with -ing.
| Word + | -ing | -ed | -er | -able |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| write | writing | --- | writer | writable |
| come | coming | --- | comer | --- |
| have | having | --- | --- | --- |
| make | making | --- | maker | makeable |
| use | using | used | user | useable/usable |
| love | loving | loved | lover | loveable/lovable |
| change | changing | changed | changer | changeable |
| manage | managing | managed | manager | manageable |
Some words have two possible forms before -able.
like — likeable/likable, move — moveable/movable, love — loveable/lovable (But if this is confusing then just drop the 'e')
But with words ending in 'ge' keep the 'e' before 'able' to keep the soft 'ge' sound: manageable, changeable, knowledgeable
We also keep the 'e' in words ending in 'ce' before 'able' to keep the soft 'c' ( "s") sound: noticeable, replaceable, serviceable
Another exception to the rule is the final -e is not dropped from words ending in: -ee, -oe, -ye: see — seeing, agree — agreeing, canoe — canoeist, dye — dyeing
Common misspelled words:
Drop the 'e' in truly — true + ly = truly
due + ly = duly
whole + ly = wholly
Drop the 'e' in argument - argue + ment = argument
Other vowel suffixes
sense + ible = sensible
opposite + ion = opposition
imagine + ation = imagination
relative + ive = relative
white + est = whitest
behave + iour/ ior = behaviour/behavior (AmE)
race + ist = racist
for and fore are two different prefixes.
for: forward, forbid, forfeit, forbidden
fore (in front/towards): foresee, forehead, foresight, forefinger, foreground
Change -ate to -acy
accurate — accuracy
literate — literacy
adequate — adequacy
immediate — immediacy
delicate — delicacy
Do a spelling test now and check you've understood this rule. There's always a difference between knowing a rule and actually spelling it correctly.
Go on grab a pen and paper and prove you can do it -
Click here for more spelling lessons.
Check out the shorty video on the Drop the ‘e’ with -ing.