Is the root a whole word?
enjoy → enjoyableIf you can take -able off and still have a word, -able is the likely ending.
comfort → comfortable; read → readableHomeSpelling guides-able or -ible?
THE SPELLING NOTEBOOK · 02
-able or -ible?
Look at the root.
They sound the same and often mean “can be”. The word in front usually tells you which to use.
Try a little practice ↓THE RULES, ONE AT A TIME
Look at the word.
Then add the ending.
Drop a final e
adore → adorableMost roots ending in e lose it before -able.
love → lovable; believe → believable (loveable, likeable and sizeable are also accepted, especially in British English)Keep the e after c or g
notice → noticeableThe e stays to keep the soft c or g sound.
change → changeable; manage → manageableIs the root not a word?
vis + ible → visibleIf the part in front isn’t a word on its own, -ible is the likely ending.
terrible; possible; edible; horribleExceptions to remember
sensible, flexible and responsible use -ible even though sense, flex and response are words. Some words use -able even though the part in front isn’t a word on its own: inevitable, vulnerable, formidable. When in doubt, check a dictionary.
A LITTLE PRACTICE GOES A LONG WAY
Which spelling is right?
Use the rules above, then check your answers.
Teacher answer key
- enjoy → enjoyable
- visible
- depend → dependable
- terrible
- notice → noticeable
- possible
A note for the grown-ups.
Rules summarised from the Department for Education’s English spelling appendix. Examples and practice are original site copy, checked against the ENABLE2K word list. Spelling rules have exceptions; check unfamiliar words in a dictionary.