NCO Primary Leadership Subjects
Adding Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes and suffixes are added to words to alter their meaning.
Introduction
Prefixes are added to the beginning of the word. When adding prefixes, the spelling
Adding prefixes
of the root word, or original word, remains the same. Note the examples in the
following table.
When the prefix...
Is added to root word...
The spelling is...
il
legal
illegal.
mis
sent
missent.
im
moveable
immovable.
over
runm
overrun.
in
elegant
inelegant.
re
consider
reconsider.
un
necessary
unnecessary.
dis
satisfied
dissatisfied.
Suffixes are added to the end of a word. Sometimes adding a suffix to the end of a
Adding suffixes
word does not change the spelling of the original word. Note the examples in this
table:
When the suffix...
Is added to root word...
The spelling is...
ness
mean
meanness.
ly
final
finally.
ness
stern
sternness.
ly
legal
legally.
ally
logic
logically.
ment
equip
equipment
Continued on next page
Writing Mechanics and Composition
1-11
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