Drop the 'e' or not
Drop the 'e' rule is a very useful rule but like all rules there are exceptions.
(BUT not with - be - being, see - seeing) 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 to do the spelling test Do the drop the 'e' or not word search (now works on tablets/phones not on PCs!!) Takes a few seconds to load Spelling Rules Workbook
"Drop the 'e' with -ing" - make - making, have - having, write - writing, love - loving, come - coming, use - using...
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
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
'ible' sense + ible = sensible
'ion' opposite + ion = opposition
'ation' imagine + ation = imagination
'ive' relative + ive = relative
'est' white + est = whitest
'iour' behave + iour = behaviour
'ist' race + ist = racist
for and fore are two different prefixes.
forward, forbid, forfeit...
foresee, forehead, foresight, forefinger... (Don't drop the 'e')
Change -ate to -acy
accurate - accuracy
literate - literacy
adequate - adequacy
immediate - immediacy
delicate - delicacy
Or click the link here to do it. Drop the 'e' for word search
a step-by-step guide to the rules of English spelling
(suitable for British and American users)
