... adding an ending that iscausing you trouble, you will find some words listedwith a useful cross-reference.dining or dinning?dine + ing = dining (as in dining room)din + ing ... dining room)din + ing = dinning (noise dinning in ears)See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii).viiHow to use this bookThere are individual entries for confusing endings like-able/-ible; ... rather than being divided intoseparate spelling, usage, punctuation and grammarsections.You will therefore find hypocrisy followinghyphens; paragraphing following paraffin; who orwhom?...
... stress in these wordsaffects the spelling:confer conferred conferring conferencedefer deferred deferring deferenceinfer inferred inferring inferenceprefer preferred preferring preferencerefer ... consonant ending is added:quarrel + some = quarrelsomeinstal + ment = instalmentDouble the -1 when adding a vowel ending:quarrel + ing = quarrellinginstal + ed = installedexcel ... keep the -e in words like singeing(different from singing) and dyeing (different5ADDING ENDINGS(iv) The 2-1-1 ruleThis rule applies to:words of TWO syllablesending with ONE...
... or bycicle)bidding or biding?bid + ing = biddingThe BIDDING at the auction was fast and furious.BIDDING farewell, the knight cantered away.bide + ing = bidingHer critics ... trees retain their leaves in autumn.beautifulUse your knowledge of French beau to help you.before(not befor)beginNote these forms and spellings:I begin, I am beginning.I ... begun.beginner(not -n-)beige(not -ie-)See EI/IE SPELLING RULE.belief(not -ei)See EI/IE SPELLING RULE.believebelieved, believing, believerSee EI/IE SPELLING RULE.See ADDING ENDINGS...
... the inner part of a nut.47CERTAIN OR CURTAINcertain or curtainCERTAIN means sure.Are you CERTAIN that he apologised?CURTAINS are window drapes.Do draw the CURTAINS.Note ... both meanings:You CAN go now (= are permitted).caning or canning?cane + ing = caningCANING is now banned in all schools.Can + ing = canningThe CANNING factory is closing down.See ... the Vedasto begin each word in an address:Mrs Anna Sendall10 Furze CrescentALPHINGTONHants PD6 9EF40CANING OR CANNING?distinction in formal contexts. However, informally,CAN...
... reversed the car into the main road and mybrother??She reversed the car into the main road, and mybrother waved goodbye.52CORPORAL PUNISHMENTcontinual or continuous?CONTINUAL means ... CONTEMPTUOUS.continualcontinually 58 daily(not dayly)This is an exception to the -y rule.See ADDING ENDINGS (iii).dairy or diary?We buy our cream at a local DAIRY.Kate writes in her ... them off in yourown work by matching them against theseexamples.Can you see the difference in meaning that apair of commas makes here? Read the twosentences aloud, pausing where...
... drab.dingo (singular) dingoes or dingos (plural)dining or dinning?dine + ing = dining (as in dining room)din + ing = dinning (noise dinning in ears)See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii).diphtheria(not ... working properly (aDEFECTIVE machine).DEFICIENT means lacking something vital (a dietDEFICIENT in vitamin C).deferdeferred, deferring, deferenceSee ADDING ENDINGS (iv).deffiniteWrong ... reluctant to participate and isclearly UNINTERESTED in any activities the schoolhas to offer.Originally, DISINTERESTED was used in this sense(= having no interest in, apathetic),...
... people are interested in their health. Most people is interested in their health. 88 . Personal & personnel I have a personal trainer. I have a personnel trainer. 89 . Personnel & ... We’ll finance all the new projects except for Joe’s, which will be discontinued. We’ll finance all the new projects except Joe’s, which will be discontinued. 48. Explain Please explain me ... 105. Since & from I’ve been waiting here since eleven this morning. I’ve been waiting here for eleven this morning. Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2010 47. Except We’ll finance...