5. spelling - u.s. government printing office home page
TRANSCRIPT
79
5. Spelling(See also Chapter 7 “Compounding Examples” and Chapter 9 “Abbreviations and Letter Symbols”)
5.1. GPO uses Webster’s Th ird New International Dictionary as itsguide for the spelling of words not appearing in the GPO Style Manual. Colloquial and dialect spellings are not used unless re-quired by the subject matter or specially requested. Th e tendency of some producers of computer-assisted publications to rely on the limited capability of some spell-checking programs adds impor-tance to this list.
Preferred and diffi cult spellings5.2. In addition to indicating the preferred forms of words with variant
spellings, the list also contains other words frequently misspelled or causing uncertainty. (See also “Word Division,” a supplement to the GPO Style Manual.)
Aabattoiraberrationabetter abettor (law)abridgmentabsorb (take in) adsorb (adhesion)abysmala cappellaaccede (yield) exceed (surpass)accepter acceptor (law)accessoryaccommodateaccordionaccouteraccursedacetic (acid) ascetic (austere)acknowledgmentacousticadapter
adjureradjusterad nauseamadviser advisor (law)adzaegisaestheticaff ect (infl uence, v.) eff ect (result, fi nish, n., v.)aft erward(s) aft erwordagingaid (n., v.)aideaide-de-campalbumen (egg) albumin (chemistry)alignallotteeall ready (prepared) already (previous)
all rightaltogether (completely) all together (collectively)aluminumambidextrousamoebaampouleanaloganalogousanemiaanestheticaneurysmanomalousanonymousantediluvianantibiotics (n.) antibiotic (adj.)anyway (adv.)anywise (adv.)appall, -ed, -ingappareled, -ingaquatic
aqueductarchaeologyarresterartifactartisanascendance, -antascent (rise) assent (consent)assassinateathenaeumattesterautogiroawhile (for some time) a while (a short time)axaye
Bbackwardbaloney (nonsense) bologna (sausage)bandanna
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bargainer bargainor (law)baritonebark (boat)barreled, -ingbastillebathyscaphbattalionbazaar (event)bizarre (strange on absurd)behoovebenefi centbenefi ted, -ingbettor (wagerer)beveled, -ingbiased, -ingblessedbloc (group) block (grants)blond (masc., fem.)bluingborn (birth) borne (carried)bouillon (soup) bullion (metal)boulderbourgeoisiebreach (gap) breech (lower part)brierbriquet, -ted, -tingBritanniabroadaxbroncobrunet (masc., fem.)buccaneerbuncombebunionburburnedbus, bused, buses, busing
butadiene
C
caff einecalcareouscalciminecaldroncalendarcalender (paper fi nish)calibercalipercalk (spike) caulk (seal)calligraphycallus (n.) callous (adj.)caloriecanceled, -ingcancellationcandorcanistercannotcanoeingcantaloupecanvas (cloth) canvass (solicit)capital (city, money) capitol (building)carabao (sing., pl.)carat (gem weight) caret (omission mark) karat (gold weight)carbureted, -ingcarburetorCaribbeancaroled, -ingcarotenecarrotcartilagecaster (roller) castor (oil)
casual (informal) causal (cause)catalog, -ed, -ingcatalogercatsupcaviarcaviled, -er, -ingcentercentipedecentrifugalcesareanchairmanedchaise longuechancellorchanneled, -ingchaperonchautauquachauvinismchiff onierchile con carnechili (pepper)chiseled, -ingchlorophyllcigarettecitablecite (quote) site (place)clamorclimactic (climax) climatic (climate)cocainecoconutcocooncoleslawcolloquycolossalcombated, -ingcommenter commentor (law)comminglecommiseratecomplement (complete)
compliment (praise)confectioneryconfi dant (masc., fem.) confi dent (sure)confi rmer confi rmor (law)conjurerconnecter connector (road)connoisseurconsecratorconsensusconsignorconsulterconsummatecontradictercontrol, -lable, -lingconverterconveyorcookiecornetistcorollarycorvettecouncilor (of council) counselor (adviser)counseled, -ingcozycrawfi shcreneled, -ingcrystaled, -ingcrystallinecrystallizecudgeled, -ingcyclopediaczar
Ddarndestdebarkationdecaff einated
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decaloguedefensedeliverer deliveror (law)demagoguedemarcationdependentdescendant (n., adj.)desecraterdesiccatedesuetude (suspended) destitute (bereft ) detractordevelop, -mentdevice (contrivance) devise (convey)dextrous (syllable division)diaeresisdiaeretic diuretic (water pill)diagramed, -ingdiagrammaticdialed, -ingdialoguedialysisdiaphragmdiarrheadickeydietitiandiff userdikedilettantedinghy (boat)diphtheriadiscreet (prudent) discrete (distinct)disheveled, -ingdiskdispatchdissensiondistention
distill, -ed, -ing, -mentdistributordiverterdivorceedoctoraldoctrinairedoggereldossierdoweled, -ingdownwarddreadnoughtdreameddroughtdueled, -ingduff elbagdullnessdumfounddweltdyeing (coloring) dying (death)
Eeastwardecstasyedemaedgewiseelectronics (n.) electronic (adj.)eleemosynaryelicit (to draw) illicit (illegal)embarrassembedembellishemboweled, -ingemboweleremigrant (go from) immigrant (go into)emigreeeminent (famous) imminent (soon)employee
enameled, -ingencageencaseencaveenclaspencloseenclosureencumberencumbranceencyclopediaendorse, -mentendwiseenfeebleenforce, -mentengraft enroll, -ed, -ing, -mentenshadeensheatheensnareensure (guarantee) insure (protect)entrenchentrepreneurentrustentwineenvelop (v.) envelope (n.)enwrapeonepaulet, -ed, -ingepiglottisepilogueequaled, -ingerysipelasescallopescapableesophagusetiologyevacueeevanescenteviscerateevocative
exhibitorexhilarateexonerateexorbitantexpellantexposé (n., exposure) expose (v., to lay open)exsiccateextant (in existence) extent (range)extoll, -ed, -ingeyingeyrie
Ffantasyfarther (distance) further (degree)favorfecalfecesfetalfetishfetusfi berfi che (microfi che)fi ligreefi nablefi naglefi nancierfj ordfl ammable (not infl ammable)fl ectionfl edglingfl exitimefl ierfl otagefl otationfl uorescentfocused, -ing
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folderalforbadeforbear (endurance) forebear (ancestor)foreseeforgettableforgo (relinquish) forego (precede)format, formatted, formattingforswearfortissimoforward (ahead) foreword (preface)fricasseefuchsiafuelerfulfi ll, -ed, -ing, -mentfulsomefungus (n., adj.)funneled, -ingfurorfuse (all meanings)fuselagefusillade
Ggaietygailygaloshgamboled, -inggarrotegaugegazetteergelatingenealogygeneralissimogermaneglamorousglamourglyceringobbledygookgoodbye
graveled, -inggraygrievousgroveled, -inggruesomeguarantee (n., v.) guaranty (n., law)guerrilla (warfare) gorilla (ape)guesstimategutturalgypsy
Hhallelujahhara-kiriharassharebrainedhealthful (for health)healthy (with health)heinoushemoglobinhemorrhageheterogeneoushiccuphighfalutinhijackhomeopathhomogeneityhomologuehors d’oeuvrehypocrisyhypotenuse
Iidiosyncrasyidle (inactive) idol (statue)idyllimminent (soon) eminent (famous)impaneled, -ing
impasseimperiled, -ingimpostorimpresarioimprimaturinculcateindict (to accuse) indite (to compose)inequity (unfairness) iniquity (sin)inferableinfoldingenious (skillful) ingenuous (simple)innocuousinnuendoinoculateinquire, inquiryinstall, -ed, -ing, -mentinstallationinstill, -ed, -inginsure (protect) ensure (guarantee)intelligentsiainterceptorinterment (burial) internment (jail)internintervener intervenor (law)intransigent (n., adj.)iridescentitalic
Jjalopyjalousiejerry-(built) jury-(rigged)jeweled, -ing, -erjewelryjudgeshipjudgment
jujitsujuxtaposition
Kkaratkerneled, -ingkerosenekidnapped, -ingkidnapperkilogramknapsackkopekkumquat
Llabeled, -inglacquerlandwardlath (wood) lathe (machine)laureledleukemialeveled, -inglevelerliable (responsible) libel (legal)liaisonlibelantlibeled, -inglibeleelibelerlicenselicenser (issuer) licensor (grantor)licoricelikablelilliputianlinage (lines) lineage (descent)liquefyliquor liqueurliterlivable
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loath (reluctant) loathe (detest)lodestarlodestonelodgmentlogistics (n.) logistic (adj.)louverlusterlyonnaise
MmadamMafi amaimmaize (corn) maze (labyrinth)maneuvermanifoldmanikin (dwarf)mannequin (model)mantel (shelf) mantle (cloak)marbleizemarijuanamarshaled, -ingmarshalermarveled, -ingmarvelousmaterial (goods) materiel (military)meagermedaled, -ingmedalistmedievalmetaled, -ingmetalizemeteorology (weather) metrology (weights and measures)meter
mil (1⁄1000 inch) mill (1⁄1000 dollar)mileagemiliary (tuberculosis)milieumilk cowmillenary (1,000) millinery (hats)millenniumminablemissilerymisspellmitermoccasinmodeled, -ingmodelermoldmolluskmoltmoneysmonogramed, -ingmonologuemortisemovablemucilagemucus (n.) mucous (adj.)Muslimmustache
NnaphthaNavajonazismneophyteniacinnickelniternonplusednorthwardNovocain (trademark)
novocaine (anesthetic)numskull
Oobbligatoobloquyocheroctetoff aloff enseomeletophthalmologyopossumorangutanorbited, -ingordinance (law) ordnance (military)organdyoverseas or oversea
Ppajamaspaleontologypaneled, -ingparaffi nparalleled, -ingparallelepipedparceled, -ingpartisanpastimepatrol, -led, -lingpeccadillopedant (n.) pedantic (adj.)peddlerpenciled, -ingpendant (n.) pendent (u.m.)percentperemptory (decisive) preemptory (preference)
perennialperiled, -ingpermitteeperquisite (privilege) prerequisite (requirement)personal (individual) personnel (staff )perspective (view) prospective (expected)petaled, -ingpharaohpharmacopeiaphoenixphlegmphonyphosphorus (n.) phosphorous (adj.)photostatedpickaxpicnickingpipetplaqueplastics (n.) plastic (adj.)pledger pledgor (law)plenitudepliersplowpoleaxpollinationpommeled, -ingpontoonporcelaneouspractice (n., v.)precedence (priority) precedents (usage)prerogativepretensepreventive
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principal (chief) principle (proposition)privilegeproff erprogrammaticprogrammed, -mer, -mingprologuepromissorypronunciationpropel, -led, -lingpropellant (n.) propellent (adj.)prophecy (n.) prophesy (v.)ptomainepubic (anatomy)pulmotorpusillanimous
Qquarreled, -ingquartetquaternaryquestionnairequeue
Rraccoonracket (all meanings)rapprochementrarefyrarityratablerational (adj.) rationale (n.)rattanraveled, -ingreconnaissancereconnoiterrecyclablereferablerefuseregistrar
reinforcerelater relator (law)remodelerrenaissancereparablerepellant (n.) repellent (adj.)requester requestor (law)rescissionresponder (electronics)responser (electronics)reveled, -er, -ingrhyme, rhythmicRIFing, RIFed, RIFsrivaled, -ingroweled, -ingruble
Ssaccharin (n.) saccharine (adj.)sacrilegioussalablesandaled, -ingsavablesavannasavior Saviour (Christ)scalloped, -ingschizophreniascion (horticulture)scurrilousseismologyselvage (edging) salvage (save)sentineled, -ingseparate (v., adj.)sepulcherseriatimsettler settlor (law)
sewage (waste) sewerage (drain system)sextetShakespeareanshellackingshoveled, -ingshriveled, -ingsidewardsignaled, -ingsiphonsite (place) cite (quote)sizableskepticskillfulskulduggerysleight (deft ) slight (meager)smoldersniveled, -ingsnorkelsoliloquysometime (formerly) some time (some time ago) some times (at times)southwardspacious (space) specious (deceptive)specterspirituous (liquor)spirochetespoliationstationary (fi xed) stationery (paper)statue (sculpture) stature (height) statute (law)staunchstenciled, -ingstenciler
stifl ingstratagemstubbornnessstultifystupefysubpoena, -edsubtletysuccorsulfur (also derivatives) sulfanilamide sulfureted, -ingsupererogationsurfeitsurreptitioussurveillanceswiveled, -ingsylvansynonymoussyrup
Ttabootacticiantasseled, -ingtattootaxied, -ingtechniqueteetotalertercentenarytheatertherefor (for it) therefore (for that reason)thiaminethralldomthrash (beat) thresh (grain)thresholdtie, tied, tyingtimber (wood) timbre (tone)tinseled, -ingtitertonsillitis
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Spelling 85
Anglicized and foreign words5.3. Diacritical marks are not used with anglicized words.
tormentertotaled, -ingtowardtoweled, -ingtoxemiatraffi ckingtrammeled, -ingtranquilize(r)tranquillitytranscendenttransferabletransferortransferredtransonictransponder (electronics)transshipmenttraveled, -ingtravelertravelogue
triptychtrolleytroop (soldiers) troupe (actors)troweled, -ingtryptophantularemiatunneled, -ingtunnelerturquoisetypifytyrannicaltyro
Uunctuousunwieldyupwarduremiausable
Vvacillatevalance (drape) valence (chemistry)veldverandavermilionvicissitudevictualed, -ingvictualervilifyvillainvisa, -ed, -ingvitaminvitrifyvolcanismvoluntarismvotablevying
Wwainscotingwarranter warrantor (law)warrantyweeviled, -ingwelderwestwardwhimsywhiskey, -swillfulwithewoefulwoolenwoollyworshiped, -er, -ing
Aabacaaide memoirea la cartea la kinga la modeangstromaperitifappliqueaproposauto(s)-da-fe
Bblaseboutonnierebrassiere
Ccabanacafe
cafeteriacaiquecanapecause celebrechateauclichecloisonnecomediennecomme ci comme cacommuniqueconfrereconsommecortegecouleecoup de gracecoup d’etatcoupecremecrepe
crepe de chinecritiquecritiquing
Ddebacledebrisdebutdebutantedecolletedejeunerdenouementdepotdos-a-dos
Eeclaireclatecruelan
eliteentreeetude
Ffacadefaiencefaux pasfetefi ance (masc., fem.)frappe
Ggarconglacegrillegruyere
Hhabitue
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5.4. Foreign words carry the diacritical marks as an essential part of their spelling.
Plural forms5.5. Nouns ending in o immediately preceded by a vowel add s to form
the plural; nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant add es to form the plural, except as indicated in the following list.
Iingenue
JjardiniereLlaissez fairelitterateur
Mmaterielmatineemelangemeleemenagemesalliancemetier
moire
Nnaivenaivetenee
Oopera bouff eopera comique
Ppapier machepiece de resistancepleiadeporte cochereporte lumiere
portierepousse cafepremiereprotege (masc., fem.)puree
Rralerechercheregimerisque rolerotisserieroue
Ssaute
seancesenorsmorgasbordsoireesouffl esuede
T
table d’hotetete-a-tetetragedienne
Vvicunavis-a-vis
à l’américaineattachébétonblessécalèchecañadacañonchargé
chargé d’aff airescongécrédit fonciercrédit mobiliercurédéjà vudétentedoña
entrepôtexposélongéronmañanamatémèrenacréoutré
passé (masc., fem.)pâtépèrepiñaprécisraisonnérésumétouché
albinosarmadillosavocadosbanjoscantoscascoscentosdidosduodecimosdynamosescudos
falsettosgauchosghettoshalosindigosinfernosjuntoskimonoslassosmagnetosmementos
merinosmestizosoctavosoctodecimospianospiccolospomelosprovisosquartossalvos
sextodecimossextossiroccossolostangelostobaccostwostyrosvirtuososzeros
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5.6. When a noun is hyphenated with an adverb or preposition, the plu-ral is formed on the noun.
comings-in hangers-on markers-upfi llers-in listeners-in passers-bygoings-on lookers-on swearers-in
5.7. When neither word is a noun, the plural is formed on the last word.also-rans go-betweens run-inscome-ons higher-ups tie-ins
5.8. In forming the plurals of compound terms, the signifi cant word takes the plural form.
Signifi cant word fi rst: adjutants general aides-de-camp ambassadors at large attorneys at law attorneys general billets-doux bills of fare brothers-in-law chargés d’aff aires chiefs of staff commanders in chief comptrollers general consuls general courts-martial crepes suzette daughters-in-law governors general grants-in-aid heirs at law inspectors general men-of-war ministers-designate mothers-in-law notaries public pilots-in-command postmasters general presidents-elect prisoners of war reductions in force
rights-of-way secretaries general sergeants at arms sergeants major solicitors general surgeons general
Signifi cant word in middle: assistant attorneys general assistant chiefs of staff assistant comptrollers general assistant surgeons general
Signifi cant word last: assistant attorneys assistant commissioners assistant corporation counsels assistant directors assistant general counsels brigadier generals deputy judges deputy sheriff s general counsels judge advocates judge advocate generals lieutenant colonels major generals provost marshals provost marshal generals quartermaster generals
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5.9. Nouns ending with ful form the plural by adding s at the end; if it is necessary to express the idea that more than one container was fi lled, the two elements of the solid compound are printed as sepa-rate words and the plural is formed by adding s to the noun.
fi ve bucketfuls of the mixture (one bucket fi lled fi ve times)fi ve buckets full of earth (separate buckets)three cupfuls of fl our (one cup fi lled three times)three cups full of coff ee (separate cups)
5.10. Th e following list comprises other words the plurals of which may cause diffi culty.
trade unions under secretaries vice chairmen
Both words equally signifi cant: Bulletins Nos. 27 and 28 not Bulletin Nos. 27 and 28 but Bulletin No. 27 or 28 coats of arms masters at arms men buyers
men employees secretaries-treasurers women aviators
No word signifi cant in itself: forget-me-nots hand-me-downs jack-in-the-pulpits man-of-the-earths pick-me-ups will-o’-the-wisps
addendum, addendaadieu, adieusagendum, agendaalga, algaealumnus, alumni (masc.); alumna, alumnae (fem.)antenna, antennas (antennae, zoology)appendix, appendixesaquarium, aquariumsautomaton, automatonsaxis, axesbandeau, bandeauxbasis, basesbateau, bateauxbeau, beauscactus, cactusescalix, calicescargo, cargoeschassis (singular and plural)
cherub, cherubscicatrix, cicatricesCo., Cos.coccus, cocciconsortium, consortiacorrigendum, corrigendacrisis, crisescriterion, criteriacurriculum, curriculumsdatum (singular), data (plural, but singular in collective sense)desideratum, desideratadilettante, dilettantidogma, dogmasellipsis, ellipsesequilibrium, equilibriums (equilibria, scientifi c)erratum, errataexecutrix, executricesfl ambeau, fl ambeaus
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Endings “ible” and “able”5.11. Th e following words end in ible; other words in this class end in able.
focus, focusesfolium, foliaformula, formulasforum, forumsfungus, fungigenius, geniusesgenus, generagladiolus (singular and plural)helix, heliceshypothesis, hypothesesindex, indexes (indices, scientifi c)insigne, insigniaitalic (singular and plural)Kansas Cityslacuna, lacunaelarva, larvaelarynx, larynxeslens, lenseslira, lirelocus, locimadam, mesdamesMarysmatrix, matricesmaximum, maximumsmedium, mediums or mediamemorandum, memorandumsminimum, minimumsminutia, minutiaemonsieur, messieursnucleus, nucleioasis, oasesoctopus, octopusesopus, operaparenthesis, parentheses
phenomenon, phenomenaphylum, phylaplateau, plateauspodium, podiumsprocès-verbal, procès-verbauxradius, radiiradix, radixesreferendum, referendumssanatorium, sanatoriumssanitarium, sanitariumsseptum, septasequela, sequelaeseraph, seraphsseta, setaeski, skisstadium, stadiumsstimulus, stimulistratum, stratastylus, stylusessyllabus, syllabusessymposium, symposiasynopsis, synopsestableau, tableaustaxi, taxisterminus, terminitestatrix, testatricesthesaurus, thesaurithesis, thesesthorax, thoraxesvertebra, vertebras (vertebrae, zoology)virtuoso, virtuososvortex, vortexes
abhorribleaccendibleaccessibleaddibleadducibleadmissible
appetibleapprehensibleaudibleavertiblebipartiblecircumscriptible
coctiblecoerciblecognosciblecohesiblecollapsiblecollectible(s)
combustiblecomestiblecommonsensiblecompactiblecompatiblecompetible
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compossiblecomprehensiblecompressibleconducibleconductibleconfl uxiblecongestiblecontemptiblecontrovertibleconversable (oral)conversible (convertible)convertibleconvinciblecorrigiblecorrodiblecorrosiblecorruptiblecrediblecruciblecullibledecoctiblededucibledeductibledefeasibledefectibledefensibledelibledeprehensibledepressibledescendibledestructiblediff rangiblediff usibledigestibledimensiblediscerniblediscerpiblediscerptiblediscussibledispersibledissectibledistensible
distractibledivertibledivestibledivisibledocibleedibleeducibleeff ectibleeff ervescibleeligibleeludibleerodibleevasibleeversibleevincibleexemptibleexhaustibleexigibleexpansibleexplosibleexpressibleextensiblefalliblefeasiblefenciblefl exiblefl uxibleforciblefrangiblefungiblefusiblegulliblehorribleignitibleillegibleimmersibleimmiscibleimpartibleimpatibleimpedibleimperceptibleimpermissibleimperscriptible
impersuasibleimplausibleimpossibleimprescriptibleimputrescibleinaccessibleinadmissibleinapprehensibleinaudibleincircumscriptibleincoercibleincognoscribleincombustibleincommiscibleincompatibleincomprehensibleincompressibleinconcussibleincontrovertibleinconvertibleinconvincibleincorrigibleincorrodibleincorruptibleincredibleindefeasibleindefectibleindefensibleindelibleindeprehensibleindestructibleindigestibleindiscernibleindivertibleindivisibleindocibleinducibleineff ervescibleineligibleineludibleinevasibleinexhaustibleinexpansible
inexpressibleinfallibleinfeasibleinfl exibleinfractibleinfrangibleinfusibleinnascibleinscriptibleinsensibleinstructibleinsubmergibleinsuppressibleinsusceptibleintactibleintangibleintelligibleinterconvertibleinterruptibleintervisibleinvendibleinvertibleinvincibleinvisibleirascibleirreducibleirrefrangibleirremissibleirreprehensibleirrepressibleirresistibleirresponsibleirreversiblelegiblemandiblemarcesciblemisiciblenegligiblenexibleomissibleostensiblepartiblepassable (open)
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Endings “ise,” “ize,” and “yze”5.12. A large number of words have the termination ise, ize, or yze. Th e
letter l is followed by yze if the word expresses an idea of loosening or separating, as analyze; all other words of this class, except those end-ing with the suffi x wise and those in the following list, end in ize.
Endings “cede,” “ceed,” and “sede”5.13. Only one word ends in sede (supersede); only three end in ceed (ex-
ceed, proceed, succeed); all other words of this class end in cede (precede, secede, etc.).
advertiseadviseaff ranchiseapprise (to inform) apprize (to appraise)arisechastisecircumcisecomprise
compromisedemisedespisedevisedisenfranchisedisfranchisedisguiseempriseenfranchiseenterprise
exciseexerciseexorcisefranchiseimproviseincisemerchandisemisadvisemortisepremise
prise (to force) prize (to value)reprisereviserisesupervisesurmisesurprisetelevise
passible (feeling)perceptibleperfectiblepermissiblepersuasiblepervertibleplausiblepossibleprehensibleprescriptibleproducibleproductibleprotrusibleputresciblereceptibleredemptiblereducible
refl ectiblerefl exiblerefrangibleremissiblerenasciblerendiblereprehensiblerepressiblereproducibleresistibleresponsiblereversiblerevertiblerisiblerunciblesconcibleseducible
sensiblesponsiblesuasiblesubdivisiblesubmergiblesubmersiblesubvertiblesuggestiblesupersensiblesuppressiblesusceptiblesuspensibletangibletensibleterriblethuribletraducible
transmissibletransvertibletripartibleunadmissibleuncorruptibleunexhaustibleunexpressibleunintelligibleunresponsibleunsusceptiblevendiblevinciblevisiblevitrescible
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Doubled consonants5.14. A single consonant following a single vowel and ending in a
monosyllable or a fi nal accented syllable is doubled before a suffi x beginning with a vowel.
bag, bagging red, reddish butformat, formatting rob, robbing total, totaled, totalinginput, inputting transfer, transferred travel, traveled, traveling
5.15. If the accent in a derivative falls upon an earlier syllable than it does in the root word, the consonant is not doubled.
refer, reference prefer, preference infer, inference
Indefi nite articles5.16. Th e indefi nite article a is used before a consonant and an aspirated
h; an is used before a silent h and all vowels except u pronounced as in visual and o pronounced as in one.
a historic occasion an herbseller buta hotel an hour an H-U-D directivea human being an honor a HUD directivea humble man an oniona union an oyster
5.17. When a group of initials begins with b, c, d, g, j, k, p, q, t, u, v, w, y, or z, each having a consonant sound, the indefi nite article a is used.
a BLS compilation a GAO limitation a WWW searcha CIO fi nding a UFO sighting
5.18. When a group of initials begins with a, e, f, h, i, l, m, n, o, r, s, or x, each having a vowel sound, the indefi nite article an is used.
an AEC report an NSC (en) proclamationan FCC (ef) ruling an RFC (ahr) loan
5.19. Use of the indefi nite article a or an before a numerical expression is determined by the consonant or vowel sound of the beginning syllable.
an 11-year-old an VIII (eight) classifi cationa onetime winner a IV–F (four ef) category (military draft )a III (three) group a 4–H Club
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Spelling 93
Geographic names5.20. Th e spelling of geographic names must conform to the decisions
of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) (http://geonames.usgs.gov). In the absence of such a decision, the U.S. Directory of Post Offi ces is to be used.
5.21. If the decisions or the rules of the BGN permit the use of either the local offi cial form or the conventional English form, it is the prerogative of the originating offi ce to select the form that is most suitable for the matter in hand; therefore, in marking copy or read-ing proof, it is required only to verify the spelling of the particular form used. GPO’s preference is for the conventional English form. Copy will be followed as to accents, but these should be consistent throughout the entire job.
Nationalities, etc.5.22. Th e table on Demonyms in Chapter 17 “Useful Tables” shows forms
to be used for nouns and adjectives denoting nationality.
5.23. In designating the natives of the States, the following forms will be used.
AlabamianAlaskanArizonanArkansanCalifornianColoradanConnecticuterDelawareanFloridianGeorgianHawaiianIdahoanIllinoisanIndianianIowanKansanKentuckian
LouisianianMainerMarylanderMassachusettsanMichiganianMinnesotanMississippianMissourianMontananNebraskanNevadanNew HampshiriteNew JerseyanNew MexicanNew YorkerNorth CarolinianNorth Dakotan
OhioanOklahomanOregonianPennsylvanianRhode IslanderSouth CarolinianSouth DakotanTennesseanTexanUtahnVermonterVirginianWashingtonianWest VirginianWisconsiniteWyomingite
94 Chapter 5
5.24. Observe the following forms: African-American Alaska Native (Aleuts, Eskimos, Indians of Alaska) Amerindian Native American (American Indian) Puerto Rican Part-Hawaiian (legal status)but part-Japanese, etc.
Native American words5.25. Words, including tribal and other proper names of Indian, Aleut,
Hawaiian, and other groups, are to be followed literally as to spell-ing and the use of spaces, hyphens, etc.
Transliteration5.26. In the spelling of nongeographic words transliterated from Chinese,
Japanese, or any other language that does not have a Latin alphabet, copy is to be followed literally.
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