Improve_Your_Punctuation.PDF

Showing prefixes and suffixes

Aprefixis a group of letters placed in front of a root word to
change the meaning.

appear disappear dependent independent

happy unhappy script postscript

Asuffixis a group of letters placedafterthe root word. This
also changes the meaning.

beauty beautiful bright brightness

dark darkness hope hopeless hopeful

Both prefixes and suffixes will be found in most dictionaries
and they are usually followed by a list of words in which they
are used.

Using hyphens

The dictionary will also indicate where hyphens are neces-
sary but not all sources agree on their inclusion in particular
words.

Investigating portmanteau words

Portmanteau wordsare words formed by the combination of
two other words. Lewis Carroll is credited with creating this
one in his bookAlice Through the Looking Glass.

chortle – from chuckle and snort

Portmanteau words are very popular today.

brunch – from breakfast and lunch

motel – from motor and hotel

Oxbridge – from Oxford and Cambridge

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