When a word of more than one syllabus ends in a single consonant (refer) preceded by a single vowel (refer) and the accent falls on the last syllable of the root word (refer). Double the final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel (referred).

 

Regret-regrettable

Concur-concurrent

Begin-beginning             

Occur-occurring

Control-controller

Transfer-transferred (but : transferable)

Note: If the accent shifts to the first syllable of the word when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added, the final consonant is not doubled.

When a Final Consonant Is Not Doubled

 

When a word of one syllabus ends in a single consonant (bad) preceded by a single vowel (bad) Do not double the final consonant before a suffix beginning with a consonant (badly)

 

Ship-shipment

Glad-gladness

Drop-droplet

  

When a word of more then one syllable ends in a single consonant (benefit) preceded by a single vowel (benefit) and the accent does not fall on the last syllable of the root word (benefit). do not double the final consonant before a suffix with a vowel (benefited)

 

differ-differed-differing

credit-credited-creditor

travel-traveled-traveler

cancel-canceled-canceling but: cancellation

 

                        Exceptions:

Program-programmed-programming

kidnap-kidnapped-kidnapping

 

agree-agreeing

mile-mileage

dye-dyeing

hoe-hoeing

When a word of one or more syllables ends in a single consonant (cloud, repeat) preceded by more than one vowel  (cloud, repeat). Do not double the final consonant before any suffix, whether it begins with a consonant (cloudless) or a vowel (repeating)

 

eat-eaten

chief-chiefly

bias-biased

wool-woolen but: woolly

 

 

When a word of one or more syllables ends with more than one consonant (work, detach). do not double the final consonant before any suffix  (workday, detached)  

confirm-confirming

hand-handful

return-returned  

Note: Words ending with ll usually retain both consonants before a suffix. However, when adding the suffix  ly, drop one l from the root word. when adding the suffixes less or like, insert a hyphen between the root and the suffix to avoid three l's in a row.  

skill-skillful

full-fully

hull-  hull-less

install-installment

shell- shell-like    

Final Silent E  

Words ending in silent e usually drop the e before a suffix beginning with a vowel.  

use-usage

true-truism

sale-salable

argue-arguing

                         

                        Exceptions:

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