8.1: Introduction to Suffixing Conventions

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Now that we’ve reached the end of the guidebook, we wanted to provide you with additional opportunities to explore the 3 suffixing conventions of the English language. As you’ve already learned, every language has its own set of accepted practices, such as replacing single, final, unpronounced <e> when adding a vowel suffix.

As stated before, many of the conventions came about during the Middle Ages when the scribes made decisions about written English, such as words will not end with the letters <i> <u> or <v>. As a result, procedures such as replacing the single, final <e> and changing the <y> to <i> conventions were put in place to handle these decisions. Knowledge of the 3 following conventions will guide you in spelling and writing.