An affix is a grammatical addition, attached to one end of a word, in order to expand or change its meaning:

• At the beginning it is called a prefix.

• At the end it is called suffix.

The suffixes on this page are written within the basic rules:

• All the consonants and vowels of the suffix are written in the outline.

• The suffix is only disjoined when a join is not possible.

• These suffixes are vocalised as normal, even if disjoined.

1. -ing -ings -ingly

• The default is stroke Ing, used where it can be written clearly. It only represents the sound of NG and so it needs the vowel sign when vocalising the outline. Add Circle S as normal.

• The second method is a dot at the end point of the stroke, used where stroke Ing would be unclear, awkward or impossible to write. A dash, written at right angles to the end of the stroke, is used for the plural "-ings". It is written with a forwards (not backwards) movement wherever possible. Vertical dashes are written downwards.

• The dot and dash represent the whole syllable (like the Con Dot does) so they are deemed to include the I vowel. This means that a vowel that comes immediately before the "-ing" is shown plain as normal, and does not become a diphone or triphone.

• Stroke Ing is preferable to dot Ing. As the dot involves a pen lift and careful positioning, it is slightly slower than using the stroke.

Stroke Ing is used where it makes a good join – generally after full-length thick strokes or making a good angle:

buying rubbing assembling adding dying considering

reading raging changing managing aching keying

making seeking liking drinking

cutting scattering concreting concluding hiking

sagging struggling staffing flying floating flattering

earthing frothing saying seeing icing assessing

easing showing ushering earning concerning discerning

cashing dashing rushing aiming mowing swimming

framing hammering knowing noting honouring

sunning sauntering ending sending needing

laying relying selling letting lettering

feeling ruling sorting breathing waiting heating yachting

penning painting pondering complaining combining binding

training tending tendering dining chaining chanting joining

engendering canning counting countering craning

reclining grinning grounding fanning finding

refunding convening inventing preventing

thinning meaning minding meandering

testing contrasting dusting suggesting everlasting registering

captioning petitioning partitioning conditioning auditioning

auctioning sectioning vacationing motioning

Add Circle S:

paintings readings findings lettings endings meanings

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Dot Ing is used:

(a) after Pee Tee Chay and downward Hay, to avoid changing from thin to thick without a clear angle. Dot Ing is deemed to include the I vowel of the suffix:

paying stopping supplying splitting spraying plotting completing

sweeping sleeping repeating hoping shopping shipping

mapping napping/knapping dropping equipping developing

eating tying treating uttering tutoring staying stowing stating

batting blotting bottling pottering getting jetting

existing insisting hesitating frustrating fretting reinstating

itching chewing chatting stitching patching pitching despatching fetching

attaching stretching catching clutching sketching scratching matching

leaching unlatching watching searching twitching hieing hoeing hewing

In compound words where the outlines are joined together, dot Ing is never used medially and is replaced by stroke Ing:

watering watering-place watering-pot dripping dripping-pan

sleeping sleeping-sickness grappling grappling-iron

eating eating-house whipping whipping-cream whipping-post

If the compound word is written with two outlines, then the dot can remain, as it is still at the end of its own part of the outline:

potting-shed sleeping-draught staying-power battering-ram

If there is a Circle S before the -ing, then Pee Tee and Chay can use stroke Ing, as the circle does the same job as a sharp angle, providing a clear transition between the two strokes:

posing placing teasing choosing purchasing traipsing compare tripping

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(b) Dot Ing is used after Ar and reversed FR VR FL VL, to avoid an insufficient angle and a change of curve direction within the outline:

airing pouring/poring* tiring storing wearing hearing freeing fretting

*you pour a drink, you pore over a book

covering hovering grovelling riffling ravelling

(c) Halving a stroke means that it can no longer take the stroke Ing and so has to use the dot instead, in order to avoid joining strokes of unequal lengths without a sharp angle:

buying bedding braying breeding blowing bleeding

aiding doubting drying dreading jawing jading feeling fielding

mooing meeting madding motoring roaming remitting

perming permitting promoting prompting plumbing plummeting

(d) Dot Ing is used where stroke Ing cannot be written well or at all:

– After Stee and Ster loops:

posting boasting costing gusting fasting investing frosting

thirsting assisting listing misting resting wasting hosting

plastering blistering clustering sequestering fostering flustering

mastering administering westering rostering bolstering upholstering

– After some instances of N Hook, V Hook or Shun where Ing is not easy or possible to join:

raining surrendering reserving learning turning rafting winning wanting

wandering weaving yawning yearning leaning landing laundering

shining shunning shunting enshrining freshening harshening

caving craving archiving crafting grieving engraving grafting

cautioning occasioning apportioning rationing stationing

fashioning envisioning functioning malfunctioning sanctioning

positioning propositioning requisitioning

– After straight strokes with the NS circle:

pouncing prancing dispensing recompensing bouncing bronzing tensing entrancing

distancing instancing dancing condensing chancing glancing ensconcing sequencing

referencing conferencing experiencing rinsing wincing enhancing

– After LD and Ard:

balding scalding scolding gilding folding scaffolding

yielding heralding moulding upholding beholding withholding

hoarding herding warding birding boarding fording affording

cording/chording carding discarding stewarding retarding

Dot Ing is not used if the "ing" is not a suffix:

ping spring ting string compare shopping spraying teeing straying

In names, stroke Ing is often used in preference to Dot Ing, as long as a minimal angle can be achieved:

Kettering Hutchings Harding Tooting Tring Ching

Compare catering etchings herding tooting uttering itching

But the following use the dot/dash:

Epping Wapping Yalding Spalding Fielding Hastings

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Dash Ings is used for the plural of those outlines that already use Dot Ing:

plottings trappings cravings itchings leanings landings rantings

windings postings blusterings listings hustings meetings mutterings

This cannot clash with an intervening third place vowel, which is struck through the end of the stroke:

whirlpool compare ripplings couplings samplings

The original outline is generally not altered to accommodate one or other of the "ing" suffixes, it will just use whichever suffix method is best suited:

cleansing cleaning summonsing summoning

"cleansing" "summonsing" and similar words do not expand the hook into a stroke En to permit joining a stroke Ing, but they retain their form and use the dot. This is because there is a choice of methods, unlike when forming other derivatives and attachments e.g. glancingly.

An outline may change to permit the joining of -ingly (as well as some of the other prefixes) because there is no choice of method to represent that particular suffix, see below.

The following outlines change the direction of Ell in order to achieve similar motion of the curves, under the rules for using stroke Ell (similar motion and vowel indication) and not because of the "ing" suffix:

lose/loose* losing/loosing, lease leasing, ail ailing but oil oiling to retain the joined diphthong

*lose (Z sound) = to suffer loss or defeat

loose (S zound) = untighten, slack

The following use proximity, under the "con/com" rules, as a quick way of representing the word "come" and produces a more distinctive outline than if Dot Ing were used:

becoming welcoming incoming overcoming

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-ing after short forms and contractions

(a) Short forms mostly follow the above rules, and only the stroke Ing is vocalised:

speaking spiriting peopling surprising balancing trading wording

chairing cheering having pleasuring wishing schooling

calling equalling caring going guarding

nearing influencing owning handing

Short forms do not use stroke Ing where the outline does not contain the consonants that immediately precede the "ing" sound, even though stroke Ing might join well. The examples below fall into this category, and they take Dot Ing instead. The purpose is to preserve the readability of the outline and avoid ambiguity – if stroke Ing were used in these cases, one might try to read the Ing immediately after the consonant stroke before it, which would lead to errors in reading back e.g. "aching" instead of "coming, and nonsense words like "misging" "inscring" "thang":

coming comings giving misgivings inscribing thanking thinking

subjecting remembering numbering doctoring delivering remarking

Note especially the pair: going giving

With the outlines for "pleasuring" and "influencing", the consonants written are those immediately before the ing, therefore adding stroke Ing presents no problems. The opposite is the case with "giving" where the V is not shown in the outline, and if you just added a stroke Ing, you might read it as some other word or think that you have written "going" out of position.

These short forms already represent the "ing" syllable:

building according during owing

(b) Contractions mostly use Dot Ing, for the same reason as with short forms above, i.e. to keep them looking like contractions (the following is not a complete list):

acknowledging advertising amalgamating arbitrating cross-examining discharging

informing interesting organising publishing representing

Stroke Ing is only used where the contraction ends in its own stroke Ing or a Circle S:

distinguishing extinguishing relinquishing

familiarising characterising, notwithstanding already includes the "ing" syllable.

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-ingly

This is always represented by strokes Ing + Ell, as Dot Ing is never used medially:

longingly strikingly fleetingly knowing showingly

feelingly ponderingly sorrowingly lovingly troublingly

The original outline may change to avoid having to disjoin the suffix (this is different from the above rule where outlines do not change to accommodate an "-ing" suffix):

sparing sparingly staring staringly boring boringly

boasting boastingly glancing glancingly

wondering wonderingly lasting lastingly* according** but accordingly   **Short form

*This particular joining of Ing is tolerated, as it is better than a disjoin

Disjoined in other outlines that use Dot Ing:

hesitatingly frustratingly frettingly splutteringly

grovellingly doubtingly fetchingly but note unerringly

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2. -ly

Up or downward Ell, as per normal Ell rules (see Theory 14 L forms page):

happily rapidly badly truly sadly loudly richly

hugely strangely likely keenly secondly consequently

goodly grandly stubbornly roundly safely lovely

earthly monthly seemly madly promptly

fairly freely slowly lately politely wetly hotly

icily easily visually rarely thoroughly

only commonly nearly nicely honestly nightly soundly

immensely falsely strongly completely fitly vividly chiefly

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An N Hook may change to stroke En to enable the Ell to be joined:

open openly plain plainly prince princely

tense tensely dense densely sudden suddenly

man manly woman womanly attentively

human humanly* humane humanely*

*Need the second vowel inserting, as both outlines now occupy 3rd position

Disjoin if necessary, using upward Ell. When disjoined, the Ell represents the whole suffix including the vowel, so no dot vowel is necessary:

finely evenly vainly heavenly* slovenly*    *Distinguishing pair

sternly tenderly compliantly flippantly blindly

competently constantly instantly distantly confidently prudently

obediently persistently reluctantly vehemently

faintly fondly friendly fervently

jointly urgently diligently negligently

But gentle gently genteel genteelly

Use L Hook where convenient:

deeply cheaply meekly biweekly (weekly)

blankly frankly thickly bleakly

briefly bravely impressively positively creatively roughly gruffly

But darkly briskly quickly likely sleekly

If there is already an L Hooked stroke, just add the vowel sign:

ably possibly tickly incredibly enjoyably irritably unavoidably

locally politically critically medically nominally originally

hopefully pitifully powerfully fearfully beautifully delightfully doubtfully

Where the root word already ends in a stroke Ell, there are several ways of representing -ly: changing to upward Ell, or just adding the dot vowel, and a few outlines add an additional upward Ell – see L Forms/3. Vowel Indication/(b) Finally for further explanation and examples.

Contractions with "-ly" Most contractions have the "-ly included in the set of words that the basic outline represents, although a disjoined unvocalised Ell could be added as well if it was felt necessary for clarity:

Already included: especial/especially financial/financially efficient/efficiently/efficiency

Be aware that some speakers omit the "-ly" in more lax speech e.g. "He worked very efficient." If it is not appropriate to correct the grammar, you should use the wavy underline as a reminder for when you are transcribing.

Add stroke Ell to these contractions:

regularly* irregularly* peculiarly* arbitrarily characteristically

*The dictionary gives no dot vowel after the Ell for these three, but all others take the dot.

immediately objectively, identically just adds the dot, defective but defectively in full

A disjoined Ell written to any contraction or short form would be perfectly readable, to prevent hesitation when writing at speed, with the intention of consulting the dictionary or textbook later on.

Contractions are dealt with full in the Contractions section.

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3. -able -ably

Generally hooked BL. An Ar may change to Ray to reflect the vowel that comes after, as well as to prevent the outline descending too far. Add the dot vowel for "-ably":

adore adorable adorably bearable admirable operable

tolerable acceptable inimitable recyclable* despicable   *suggested outline, not in dictionary.

flammable manageable changeable honourable reliable

disagreeable valuable voluble amiable measurable

presentable preventable negotiable appreciable pitiable

insatiable unsociable justifiable certifiable identifiable

unconscionable sanctionable (sanction) friable enviable

predictably preferably undeniably amicably

These exceptions keep the Ar: curable incurable securable procurable. This may possibly be to prevent a clash e.g. carriable.

Full strokes Bee + Ell, if the hooked BL cannot be joined. Add the dot vowel for "-ably":

countable accountable unaccountable lamentable

rent rentable actionable impressionable

fashionable fissionable adjustable detestable

contestable contrastable surmountable but insurmountable mountable

unmentionable remarkable/remarkably* but probable/probably/probability* already includes the suffix   *Contractions

After short forms:

believable buildable deliverable but giveable/givable speakable unspeakable

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4. -est -ist

(a) Stee Loop wherever possible:

bare barest tightest saddest blackest biggest safest iciest

rashest merriest airiest warmest soonest lowest

fewest pianist violinist behaviourist specialist economist

Add to short forms: largest greatest* nearest but very veriest   *Alternative short form

(a) Halved Ess:

Where Stee Loop cannot be written, use a halved Ess. In a few instances this has to be written upwards and is the only instance of a stroke being written directly upwards. This is no problem, as, being half size, it is similar to writing the upward-travelling part of a Ses circle or Shun Hook. In some sets of words, the endings -er -est -ish can look very similar if not carefully written:

abolitionist contortionist demolitionist exclusionist* exhibitionist

*The halved Ess is the first up/downstroke and so that is the one resting on the line, despite being last stroke of the outline.

receptionist perfectionist reconstructionist illusionist positivist

conservationist preservationist revisionist creationist

impressionist expressionist expansionist nutritionist

plainest earnest sternest toughest kindest grandest hardest shortest*   *Using short form

"Highest" is a derivative of "high" so keeps the downward Hay:

high highest compare heist, newest to distinguish from next*   *Short form

The suffix "-sist -sest" is written as follows wherever possible:

pharmacist publicist biblicist romanticist aerodynamicist

choicer choicest closest closish* crossest grossest coarsest

*Helpful to insert vowel before Ish

fiercest hoarser hoarsest horsy horsiest loosest wisest

scarcer scarcest false falsest consist consistent

spice spicier spicy spiciest raciest

sauce sauced saucer saucier sauciest saucy

In the above, the Circle S provides a clear, fast and easy transition between the strokes. The examples below using Ess and Stee Loop make forming derivatives easier:

classicist* racist** empiricist exorcist* historicist *See derivatives below

**Suggested outline, not in dictionary, but based on the other examples in this line

physicist phoneticist geneticist lyricist fantasist romancist

dense densest nicer nicest incest but incestuous

See also Theory 4 Circles/Ses for words like "exist insist accessed processed" where it is not a suffix.

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5. -ess

This suffix denotes the female version of a noun.

In the following, stroke Ess is used (rather than Circle S) so that it does not look like a plural of the root word, and also makes it clear that there is an extra syllable:

heirs heiress heiresses manageress countess Jewess

princess deaconess vicaress prophetess murderess archeress

The following examples have a clear difference between the plural and the female versions, so do not need to use the stroke Ess:

stewards stewardess shepherds shepherdess authors authoress

barons baroness* emperors empress lions lioness   *Compare with barrenness

governors* governess** mayors mayoress adulterers adulteress

*Using contraction   **Not using contraction

hunters huntress hosts hostess caterers cateress

priests priestess sculptors sculptress tempters temptress

enchanters enchantress giants giantess seducers seductress

masters mistress seamsters seamstress songsters songstress

abbots abbess dukes duchess

A few outlines have the same outline for both the plural and the female version, after a hooked stroke and where there is no extra syllable added. In these it is advisable to insert the last vowel:

actress benefactress tigress waitress

actors benefactors tigers waiters

A few other words use stroke Ess to give clearer outlines:

Mrs/missis/missus to distinguish from Misses, Moses, Jesus compare Jews

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6. -ism

Circle S + Em wherever it can join:

escapism tropism cubism snobbism malapropism

absenteeism truism altruism autism conservatism

egotism faddism hybridism neologism

catechism monarchism anarchism

emotionalism idealism realism capitalism

surrealism pluralism materialism nationalism

vandalism optimism euphemism extremism

legalism heroism naturism barbarism

secularism cynicism classicism racism* exorcism

*Suggested outline, not in dictionary

criticism scepticism solecism ostracism

witticism narcissism stoicism

dogmatism schematism patriotism favouritism   These cannot show the I vowel of -ism as there is nowhere for it to go, due to the halving.

The following have to make an awkward change of curve direction, something avoided wherever possible. The circle is written in the direction it would take if the two strokes were straight ones i.e. outside the angle that they would make. Do not write a circle going back on itself, another ungainly movement which is restricted to a few instances of Hay (Theory 12 page) within an outline, and slightly less awkwardly in words like disagree (Theory 18 page) to indicate an R Hook:

pacifism alcoholism colonialism racialism aphorism

Where Circle S + Em is not convenient or possible, strokes Zee + Em are used (generally after hooks):

mechanism organism paganism modernism humanism

determinism sectarianism Wesleyanism authoritarianism

impressionism perfectionism divisionism revolutionism

Compare the above with ransom lonesome* where the S is written inside the N Hook,  there being no vowel after the N. This formation is not used for "-nism".

*More examples on Theory N F V Hooks page

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En + S + Em – The Circle S is written inside the En:

anachronism communism chauvinism

galvanism journalism* religionism   *Optional contraction

Puritanism creationism (creation)

Compare the above with compound words, where the Circle S is written inside the curve it belongs to, thus reflecting where the syllable breaks:

N-SM: non-smoker unsmiling unseam unseemly

unsymptomatic unsympathetic* noisome** handsome

*Retains first position of the contraction   **noy/annoy+some, not derived from "noise"

unsmart unsummoned pianissimo

NS-M: Norseman newsman newsmonger nursemaid

MS-N: misname misnomer enormousness venomousness

-ism can be added to a contraction:

commercialism reformism republicanism* subjectivism   *Optioinal contraction

magnetism enthusiasm need no suffix.

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7. -less

Ell + Circle S, as per normal rules:

priceless hopeless regardless rainless countless groundless

landless relentless talentless childless* wordless*   *Using short forms

stainless senseless scentless soundless

Disjoin if necessary, in which case it might be prudent to insert the E vowel, to prevent it looking like "-lessness" (on Theory 20 Suffixes Contracted page) which is always disjoined and never vocalised:

friendless frontless ambitionless but motionless

The outline may change from hook or loop to full strokes, to enable the Ell to be joined:

painless brainless moonless roofless waveless

pointless dauntless boundless mindless

If the original outline uses Stee Loop, it may omit the lightly sounded T to enable the Ell to be joined:

restless rustless trustless listless but costless to distinguish from causeless

Add the whole suffix, even if the outline already ends in a stroke Ell – pronunciation generally reflects the two L sounds:

*soulless skill-less nail-less vowel-less

*See also L Forms/3. Vowel Indication/(b) Finally for further explanation and examples.

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8. -ness

En + Circle S, as per normal theory:

happiness business rightness richness rigidness

slowness willingness wilderness tenderness

airiness laziness weariness looseness (loose)

Add to short forms and contractions: shortness coldness dearness togetherness

Add the whole suffix even if there is already a stroke En or N Hook at the end of the original word:

openness plainness rottenness cleanness suddenness

outspokenness thinness sternness evenness meanness

barrenness stubbornness foreignness modernness

roundness goldenness* alienness frozenness brazenness   *Using short form

wantonness commonness uncommonness uncertainness

In the names Guinness McGuinness it is not a suffix, so only one stroke En is needed

The final hook or loop may need to change to full stroke to allow the En to be joined:

lean leanness sullenness sereneness but slenderness to retain the doubling

moist moistness august augustness fast fastness vastness

Disjoin if necessary (lack of angle, generally after halved stroke):

aptness ineptness corruptness abruptness completeness badness

tightness straightness indebtedness deadness promptness tiredness largeness*

*Using short form

There is no special suffix for -liness, just add "-ness" to the existing outline:

brotherliness chilliness cleanliness costliness

cowardliness disorderliness earliness surliness

wholeness oiliness silliness steeliness lowliness loneliness

liveliness manliness womanliness neighbourliness

unsightliness timeliness unseemliness worldliness

Sometimes the -ly is disjoined out of necessity, making it look like a special disjoined suffix, which it is not:

friendliness gentlemanliness heavenliness but slovenliness*   *See asterisked note above

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"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

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