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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Double consonants rule?
Greetings,
Recently I have been tripping over whether or not to double the consonant on the end of past tense verbs.
For example:
barter > bartered
occur > Is it occurred or occured?
I seem to remember learning a rule a couple of life times ago, but what it was escapes me. Is there such a beast or does one have to memorize exceptions? Worse, I suppose, is it changing in usage?
-het
"Even if you do learn to speak correct English,
to whom are you going to speak it?" -Clarence Darrow
Name your Poison: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/catastrophes.html H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/
Recently I have been tripping over whether or not to double the consonant on the end of past tense verbs.
For example:
barter > bartered
occur > Is it occurred or occured?
I seem to remember learning a rule a couple of life times ago, but what it was escapes me. Is there such a beast or does one have to memorize exceptions? Worse, I suppose, is it changing in usage?
-het
"Even if you do learn to speak correct English,
to whom are you going to speak it?" -Clarence Darrow
Name your Poison: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/catastrophes.html H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/
Top answer
The general rule is that you double the consonant letter only if the last syllable is stressed. ). S.
- The general rule is that you double the consonant letter only if the last syllable is stressed.
- ).
- S.
- it would be 'traveled' but in England it would be 'travelled'.
- Who knows why?
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3 Answers
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The general rule is that you double the consonant letter only if the last syllable is stressed. So, it would be
bartered, riveted, etc
occurred, preferred, etc
As far as I know, Americans apply this rule consistently but the English have a bee in their bonnet about the letters 'l' and 't' (any others?). For instance, in the U.S. it would be 'traveled' but in England it would be 'travel
bartered, riveted, etc
occurred, preferred, etc
As far as I know, Americans apply this rule consistently but the English have a bee in their bonnet about the letters 'l' and 't' (any others?). For instance, in the U.S. it would be 'traveled' but in England it would be 'travel
00
[nq:1]The general rule is that you double the consonant letter only if the last syllable is stressed. So, it would ... others?). For instance, in the U.S. it would be 'traveled' but in England it would be 'travelled'. Who knows why?[/nq]
Far be it from me to try to explain the English (nation, that is).
There's an important exception to the rule given by Ignotus. When the vowel sound
Far be it from me to try to explain the English (nation, that is).
There's an important exception to the rule given by Ignotus. When the vowel sound
00
[nq:2]The general rule is that you double the consonant letter ... but in England it would be 'travelled'. Who knows why?[/nq]
[nq:1]Far be it from me to try to explain the English (nation, that is). There's an important exception to the ... There are still other exceptions, but let's leave some room for others. Bob Lieblich Not all that gnotus, either[/nq]
We're talking about a the additi
[nq:1]Far be it from me to try to explain the English (nation, that is). There's an important exception to the ... There are still other exceptions, but let's leave some room for others. Bob Lieblich Not all that gnotus, either[/nq]
We're talking about a the additi
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