700. Words with a last syllable consisting of a single short accented vowel followed by a single consonant, double the consonant when adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.
- dip-p-ed
- occur-r-ed
- occur-r-ence
- stop-p-ing
- forget-t-ing
- unforget-t-able
- sad-d-en
- forbid-d-en
- tranquil-l-ity
Observe that the conditions are three:
- 1. Accent on the last syllable
- 2. Single short vowel
- 3. Single final consonant
701. Words with a last syllable ending in a short vowel and a single consonant, but not accented on the last syllable, do not double the final consonant.
- worship-ed
- level-ing
- travel-er
702. Words ending in final silent -e drop the -e before a suffix beginning with a vowel. They do NOT double the consonant.
- hope, hop-ed
- fine, fin-er
- dine, din-ing
- crude, crud-ity
- wide, wid-en
- subside, subsid-ence
703. Words ending in -ce or -ge keep the -e before a suffix beginning with -a or -o, to show that -c- or -g- is soft.