Classic Errors and Helpful Hints

Words that are formed from existing words can also be confusing - sometimes the original spelling stays the same and sometimes it changes. Some to remember are:

• Words ending in -our, e.g. honour, favour, labour, humour. Keep the u when you add -able or -er - e.g. honourable, favourable, labourer; favourite also keeps the u. But u is very often lost - e.g. before -ous, as in humorous, glamorous, rigorous; also in honorary and honorific.

• Occur and occurrence but refer and reference. In verbs ending in -ur and -ur, double the r when you add -ence; leave it single if the verb ends in -er or -ear (appear and apparent).

• Drop the o if you add -iation to a verb ending in -ounce. The most common example is pronunciation from pronounce.