Are You Able?

by Sharon

Two common suffixes in English are ‘-able’ and ‘-ible’. It is sometimes difficult to know which one to use. -able descends from the Latin ‘abilis’ and has resulted in the formation of words such as capable, amiable and favorable, as well as many other English formations.

The suffix is also in wide use because of its association with the word able, and has resulted in many word formations similar to drinkable (able to be drunk).

Often added to words of English or French origin, -able is used much more widely than -ible. However, there are still about a hundred common words that take -ible, including: accessible, admissible, audible, convertible, credible, digestible, discernible, edible, eligible, fallible, feasible, forcible, gullible, horrible, intelligible, legible, negligible, perceptible, permissible, plausible, possible, responsible, susceptible, tangible, terrible and visible.

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8 Responses to “Are You Able?”

  1. Renee on December 31, 2007 11:21 pm

    And don’t forget “irreducible”. After missing it in the 1976 National Spelling Bee, I sure haven’t!

    Thank you all for a wonderful website. Best wishes for a successful 2008!

  2. Sharon on January 1, 2008 12:27 am

    I bet you haven’t, Renee, and that’s a tough one. Best wishes for 2008 to you too.

  3. Amy on January 1, 2008 6:33 am

    I hear you there; the word I misspelled was pharoah. Will never forget to put in the a again as long as I live, that is for sure.

  4. Aaron on January 1, 2008 7:30 am

    Great tips!

  5. Maurice on January 1, 2008 8:29 am

    Boy, back to class but I’m enjoying these great tips. It will definitely help me with writing effectively and coherently. Have a blessed and successful 2008 and beyond!

    Peace,
    Maurice

  6. Maeve on January 1, 2008 3:46 pm

    Amy,
    I’m afraid you’ve done it again! The spelling is pharaoh.
    The word contains the name of the Egyptian god Ra. That’s how I remember it.

  7. Amy on March 6, 2008 11:28 pm

    I was in the 1976 National Spelling Bee too! I spelled quatrefoil correctly, but missed fibrositis.

    - another Amy

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