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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 171
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I am aware of how dangerous it is to offer grammatical and spelling rules to make a point--usually responded to by a huge listing of exceptions. Nevertheless, I have been guided reasonably well thoughout my adult life by the following rule on doubling of consonants
Two-syllable words:
ED = If the stress is on the first syllable, the word only gets one consonant + ED.
ING = If the stress is on the first syllable, the word only gets one consonant + ING.
Examples:
visit > visited, open > opened
happen > happening, enter > entering
travel > traveling (I added this example)
ED = If the stress is on the second syllable, the word gets a double consonant + ED.
ING = If the stress is on the second syllable, the word gets a double consonant + ING.
Examples:
refer > referred, admit > admitted
begin > beginning, permit > permitting
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
old hand
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>Nevertheless, I have been guided reasonably well thoughout my adult life by the following rule on doubling of consonants
US orthography - this Zilder is travelling with his Commonwealth cousin in Newfoundland on this issue.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477
addict
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addict
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Commonwealth cousin - traveling
Oh gawd, this is hideous, not only am I publicly stating my Commonwealth involvement (vive le Republic), but I'm agreeing with a Zilder in the same breath. Don't feel like chopped liver Bean, I agree with my Newfie friend too, but that's not hideous!! Sheesh!  What is the world coming to??
Hello everyone.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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Oh! Here's a rule! Let's obey it.
No! It's an USn rule, therefore it's stupid and we shouldn't obey it.
The Reason Behind The Rule:
Normal English orthography has it that a long vowel followed by a single consonant shall have another vowel after the consonant. A short vowel shall be followed by a doubled consonant before a following vowel. Thus, when adding a suffix, a single final consonant shall be doubled to protect against lengthening (lengthenning anyone?) an otherwise short vowel, e.g., beginning. The USns have decided that there is no danger of lengthening an unaccented vowel so doubling of the consonant is not necessary if the syllable containing such a vowel is not accented, e.g., traveling.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
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> a vowel .. not accented
How come 'schwa' doesn't have one, Faldage?
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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How come 'schwa' doesn't have one what?
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 180
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Contrariwise, I was brought up short when I was expected to "enrol" my daughter in kindergarten in Australia when I thought I should "enroll" her. But then, while I lived there I was a Library Clerk, and spelled it the way I heard them say it, "clark", when I filled out forms. My ex was quite content to let me make a fool of myself, since I showed so much talent for the enterprise.
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old hand
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old hand
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If the stress is on the first syllable.. - The trouble with gas: there is only one..
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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only one
With my analysis of the rule it doesn't matter how many syllables there are.
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