CHAPTER 50

Using less and ness

The suffixes less and ness are extremely popular and deserve some attention because the spelling rules

that apply to them are remarkably similar.

(^) Off and of should never be used together.
Less is primarily a comparative and is most commonly used as an adjective suffix indicating a lack of
something. Ness, on the other hand, is a suffix used to form abstract nouns.
Spelling rule #1: The suffix less is added to a word without any changes. If the root has a silent e it
will be retained. If the root ends in l, the silent e is retained. Change the y to i.
(^) Spelling rule #2: The suffix ness is added to a word without any changes. If the root has a silent e, it
is retained. If the root ends in an n, it is retained. Change the y to i.
(^) Unlike full, these two suffixes do not drop the extra consonant. The double s is retained, even when
both suffixes are used with the same root word.
(^) When used as a separate word before a noun, less modifies only singular nouns of quantity. Plural
nouns must use the word fewer.