5. Spelling - GPO. Spelling (See also Chapter 7 ... 5.1. GPO uses Webster’s Th ird New International Dictionary as its ... maze (labyrinth) maneuver manifold manikin (dwarf

79

5. Spelling(See also Chapter 7 “Compounding Examples” and Chapter 9 “Abbreviations and Letter Symbols”)

5.1. GPO uses Webster’s Th ird New International Dictionary as itsguide for the spelling of words not appearing in the GPO Style Manual. Colloquial and dialect spellings are not used unless re-quired by the subject matter or specially requested. Th e tendency of some producers of computer-assisted publications to rely on the limited capability of some spell-checking programs adds impor-tance to this list.

Preferred and diffi cult spellings5.2. In addition to indicating the preferred forms of words with variant

spellings, the list also contains other words frequently misspelled or causing uncertainty. (See also “Word Division,” a supplement to the GPO Style Manual.)

Aabattoiraberrationabetter abettor (law)abridgmentabsorb (take in) adsorb (adhesion)abysmala cappellaaccede (yield) exceed (surpass)accepter acceptor (law)accessoryaccommodateaccordionaccouteraccursedacetic (acid) ascetic (austere)acknowledgmentacousticadapter

adjureradjusterad nauseamadviser advisor (law)adzaegisaestheticaff ect (infl uence, v.) eff ect (result, fi nish, n., v.)aft erward(s) aft erwordagingaid (n., v.)aideaide-de-campalbumen (egg) albumin (chemistry)alignallotteeall ready (prepared) already (previous)

all rightaltogether (completely) all together (collectively)aluminumambidextrousamoebaampouleanaloganalogousanemiaanestheticaneurysmanomalousanonymousantediluvianantibiotics (n.) antibiotic (adj.)anyway (adv.)anywise (adv.)appall, -ed, -ingappareled, -ingaquatic

aqueductarchaeologyarresterartifactartisanascendance, -antascent (rise) assent (consent)assassinateathenaeumattesterautogiroawhile (for some time) a while (a short time)axaye

Bbackwardbaloney (nonsense) bologna (sausage)bandanna

chapter5.indd 79chapter5.indd 79 1/13/09 8:41:54 AM1/13/09 8:41:54 AM

80 Chapter 5

bargainer bargainor (law)baritonebark (boat)barreled, -ingbastillebathyscaphbattalionbazaar (event)bizarre (strange on absurd)behoovebenefi centbenefi ted, -ingbettor (wagerer)beveled, -ingbiased, -ingblessedbloc (group) block (grants)blond (masc., fem.)bluingborn (birth) borne (carried)bouillon (soup) bullion (metal)boulderbourgeoisiebreach (gap) breech (lower part)brierbriquet, -ted, -tingBritanniabroadaxbroncobrunet (masc., fem.)buccaneerbuncombebunionburburnedbus, bused, buses, busing

butadiene

C

caff einecalcareouscalciminecaldroncalendarcalender (paper fi nish)calibercalipercalk (spike) caulk (seal)calligraphycallus (n.) callous (adj.)caloriecanceled, -ingcancellationcandorcanistercannotcanoeingcantaloupecanvas (cloth) canvass (solicit)capital (city, money) capitol (building)carabao (sing., pl.)carat (gem weight) caret (omission mark) karat (gold weight)carbureted, -ingcarburetorCaribbeancaroled, -ingcarotenecarrotcartilagecaster (roller) castor (oil)

casual (informal) causal (cause)catalog, -ed, -ingcatalogercatsupcaviarcaviled, -er, -ingcentercentipedecentrifugalcesareanchairmanedchaise longuechancellorchanneled, -ingchaperonchautauquachauvinismchiff onierchile con carnechili (pepper)chiseled, -ingchlorophyllcigarettecitablecite (quote) site (place)clamorclimactic (climax) climatic (climate)cocainecoconutcocooncoleslawcolloquycolossalcombated, -ingcommenter commentor (law)comminglecommiseratecomplement (complete)

compliment (praise)confectioneryconfi dant (masc., fem.) confi dent (sure)confi rmer confi rmor (law)conjurerconnecter connector (road)connoisseurconsecratorconsensusconsignorconsulterconsummatecontradictercontrol, -lable, -lingconverterconveyorcookiecornetistcorollarycorvettecouncilor (of council) counselor (adviser)counseled, -ingcozycrawfi shcreneled, -ingcrystaled, -ingcrystallinecrystallizecudgeled, -ingcyclopediaczar

Ddarndestdebarkationdecaff einated


Spelling 81

decaloguedefensedeliverer deliveror (law)demagoguedemarcationdependentdescendant (n., adj.)desecraterdesiccatedesuetude (suspended) destitute (bereft ) detractordevelop, -mentdevice (contrivance) devise (convey)dextrous (syllable division)diaeresisdiaeretic diuretic (water pill)diagramed, -ingdiagrammaticdialed, -ingdialoguedialysisdiaphragmdiarrheadickeydietitiandiff userdikedilettantedinghy (boat)diphtheriadiscreet (prudent) discrete (distinct)disheveled, -ingdiskdispatchdissensiondistention

distill, -ed, -ing, -mentdistributordiverterdivorceedoctoraldoctrinairedoggereldossierdoweled, -ingdownwarddreadnoughtdreameddroughtdueled, -ingduff elbagdullnessdumfounddweltdyeing (coloring) dying (death)

Eeastwardecstasyedemaedgewiseelectronics (n.) electronic (adj.)eleemosynaryelicit (to draw) illicit (illegal)embarrassembedembellishemboweled, -ingemboweleremigrant (go from) immigrant (go into)emigreeeminent (famous) imminent (soon)employee

enameled, -ingencageencaseencaveenclaspencloseenclosureencumberencumbranceencyclopediaendorse, -mentendwiseenfeebleenforce, -mentengraft enroll, -ed, -ing, -mentenshadeensheatheensnareensure (guarantee) insure (protect)entrenchentrepreneurentrustentwineenvelop (v.) envelope (n.)enwrapeonepaulet, -ed, -ingepiglottisepilogueequaled, -ingerysipelasescallopescapableesophagusetiologyevacueeevanescenteviscerateevocative

exhibitorexhilarateexonerateexorbitantexpellantexposé (n., exposure) expose (v., to lay open)exsiccateextant (in existence) extent (range)extoll, -ed, -ingeyingeyrie

Ffantasyfarther (distance) further (degree)favorfecalfecesfetalfetishfetusfi berfi che (microfi che)fi ligreefi nablefi naglefi nancierfj ordfl ammable (not infl ammable)fl ectionfl edglingfl exitimefl ierfl otagefl otationfl uorescentfocused, -ing


82 Chapter 5

folderalforbadeforbear (endurance) forebear (ancestor)foreseeforgettableforgo (relinquish) forego (precede)format, formatted, formattingforswearfortissimoforward (ahead) foreword (preface)fricasseefuchsiafuelerfulfi ll, -ed, -ing, -mentfulsomefungus (n., adj.)funneled, -ingfurorfuse (all meanings)fuselagefusillade

Ggaietygailygaloshgamboled, -inggarrotegaugegazetteergelatingenealogygeneralissimogermaneglamorousglamourglyceringobbledygookgoodbye

graveled, -inggraygrievousgroveled, -inggruesomeguarantee (n., v.) guaranty (n., law)guerrilla (warfare) gorilla (ape)guesstimategutturalgypsy

Hhallelujahhara-kiriharassharebrainedhealthful (for health)healthy (with health)heinoushemoglobinhemorrhageheterogeneoushiccuphighfalutinhijackhomeopathhomogeneityhomologuehors d’oeuvrehypocrisyhypotenuse

Iidiosyncrasyidle (inactive) idol (statue)idyllimminent (soon) eminent (famous)impaneled, -ing

impasseimperiled, -ingimpostorimpresarioimprimaturinculcateindict (to accuse) indite (to compose)inequity (unfairness) iniquity (sin)inferableinfoldingenious (skillful) ingenuous (simple)innocuousinnuendoinoculateinquire, inquiryinstall, -ed, -ing, -mentinstallationinstill, -ed, -inginsure (protect) ensure (guarantee)intelligentsiainterceptorinterment (burial) internment (jail)internintervener intervenor (law)intransigent (n., adj.)iridescentitalic

Jjalopyjalousiejerry-(built) jury-(rigged)jeweled, -ing, -erjewelryjudgeshipjudgment

jujitsujuxtaposition

Kkaratkerneled, -ingkerosenekidnapped, -ingkidnapperkilogramknapsackkopekkumquat

Llabeled, -inglacquerlandwardlath (wood) lathe (machine)laureledleukemialeveled, -inglevelerliable (responsible) libel (legal)liaisonlibelantlibeled, -inglibeleelibelerlicenselicenser (issuer) licensor (grantor)licoricelikablelilliputianlinage (lines) lineage (descent)liquefyliquor liqueurliterlivable


Spelling 83

loath (reluctant) loathe (detest)lodestarlodestonelodgmentlogistics (n.) logistic (adj.)louverlusterlyonnaise

MmadamMafi amaimmaize (corn) maze (labyrinth)maneuvermanifoldmanikin (dwarf)mannequin (model)mantel (shelf) mantle (cloak)marbleizemarijuanamarshaled, -ingmarshalermarveled, -ingmarvelousmaterial (goods) materiel (military)meagermedaled, -ingmedalistmedievalmetaled, -ingmetalizemeteorology (weather) metrology (weights and measures)meter

mil (1⁄1000 inch) mill (1⁄1000 dollar)mileagemiliary (tuberculosis)milieumilk cowmillenary (1,000) millinery (hats)millenniumminablemissilerymisspellmitermoccasinmodeled, -ingmodelermoldmolluskmoltmoneysmonogramed, -ingmonologuemortisemovablemucilagemucus (n.) mucous (adj.)Muslimmustache

NnaphthaNavajonazismneophyteniacinnickelniternonplusednorthwardNovocain (trademark)

novocaine (anesthetic)numskull

Oobbligatoobloquyocheroctetoff aloff enseomeletophthalmologyopossumorangutanorbited, -ingordinance (law) ordnance (military)organdyoverseas or oversea

Ppajamaspaleontologypaneled, -ingparaffi nparalleled, -ingparallelepipedparceled, -ingpartisanpastimepatrol, -led, -lingpeccadillopedant (n.) pedantic (adj.)peddlerpenciled, -ingpendant (n.) pendent (u.m.)percentperemptory (decisive) preemptory (preference)

perennialperiled, -ingpermitteeperquisite (privilege) prerequisite (requirement)personal (individual) personnel (staff )perspective (view) prospective (expected)petaled, -ingpharaohpharmacopeiaphoenixphlegmphonyphosphorus (n.) phosphorous (adj.)photostatedpickaxpicnickingpipetplaqueplastics (n.) plastic (adj.)pledger pledgor (law)plenitudepliersplowpoleaxpollinationpommeled, -ingpontoonporcelaneouspractice (n., v.)precedence (priority) precedents (usage)prerogativepretensepreventive


84 Chapter 5

principal (chief) principle (proposition)privilegeproff erprogrammaticprogrammed, -mer, -mingprologuepromissorypronunciationpropel, -led, -lingpropellant (n.) propellent (adj.)prophecy (n.) prophesy (v.)ptomainepubic (anatomy)pulmotorpusillanimous

Qquarreled, -ingquartetquaternaryquestionnairequeue

Rraccoonracket (all meanings)rapprochementrarefyrarityratablerational (adj.) rationale (n.)rattanraveled, -ingreconnaissancereconnoiterrecyclablereferablerefuseregistrar

reinforcerelater relator (law)remodelerrenaissancereparablerepellant (n.) repellent (adj.)requester requestor (law)rescissionresponder (electronics)responser (electronics)reveled, -er, -ingrhyme, rhythmicRIFing, RIFed, RIFsrivaled, -ingroweled, -ingruble

Ssaccharin (n.) saccharine (adj.)sacrilegioussalablesandaled, -ingsavablesavannasavior Saviour (Christ)scalloped, -ingschizophreniascion (horticulture)scurrilousseismologyselvage (edging) salvage (save)sentineled, -ingseparate (v., adj.)sepulcherseriatimsettler settlor (law)

sewage (waste) sewerage (drain system)sextetShakespeareanshellackingshoveled, -ingshriveled, -ingsidewardsignaled, -ingsiphonsite (place) cite (quote)sizableskepticskillfulskulduggerysleight (deft ) slight (meager)smoldersniveled, -ingsnorkelsoliloquysometime (formerly) some time (some time ago) some times (at times)southwardspacious (space) specious (deceptive)specterspirituous (liquor)spirochetespoliationstationary (fi xed) stationery (paper)statue (sculpture) stature (height) statute (law)staunchstenciled, -ingstenciler

stifl ingstratagemstubbornnessstultifystupefysubpoena, -edsubtletysuccorsulfur (also derivatives) sulfanilamide sulfureted, -ingsupererogationsurfeitsurreptitioussurveillanceswiveled, -ingsylvansynonymoussyrup

Ttabootacticiantasseled, -ingtattootaxied, -ingtechniqueteetotalertercentenarytheatertherefor (for it) therefore (for that reason)thiaminethralldomthrash (beat) thresh (grain)thresholdtie, tied, tyingtimber (wood) timbre (tone)tinseled, -ingtitertonsillitis


Spelling 85

Anglicized and foreign words5.3. Diacritical marks are not used with anglicized words.

tormentertotaled, -ingtowardtoweled, -ingtoxemiatraffi ckingtrammeled, -ingtranquilize(r)tranquillitytranscendenttransferabletransferortransferredtransonictransponder (electronics)transshipmenttraveled, -ingtravelertravelogue

triptychtrolleytroop (soldiers) troupe (actors)troweled, -ingtryptophantularemiatunneled, -ingtunnelerturquoisetypifytyrannicaltyro

Uunctuousunwieldyupwarduremiausable

Vvacillatevalance (drape) valence (chemistry)veldverandavermilionvicissitudevictualed, -ingvictualervilifyvillainvisa, -ed, -ingvitaminvitrifyvolcanismvoluntarismvotablevying

Wwainscotingwarranter warrantor (law)warrantyweeviled, -ingwelderwestwardwhimsywhiskey, -swillfulwithewoefulwoolenwoollyworshiped, -er, -ing

Aabacaaide memoirea la cartea la kinga la modeangstromaperitifappliqueaproposauto(s)-da-fe

Bblaseboutonnierebrassiere

Ccabanacafe

cafeteriacaiquecanapecause celebrechateauclichecloisonnecomediennecomme ci comme cacommuniqueconfrereconsommecortegecouleecoup de gracecoup d’etatcoupecremecrepe

crepe de chinecritiquecritiquing

Ddebacledebrisdebutdebutantedecolletedejeunerdenouementdepotdos-a-dos

Eeclaireclatecruelan

eliteentreeetude

Ffacadefaiencefaux pasfetefi ance (masc., fem.)frappe

Ggarconglacegrillegruyere

Hhabitue


86 Chapter 5

5.4. Foreign words carry the diacritical marks as an essential part of their spelling.

Plural forms5.5. Nouns ending in o immediately preceded by a vowel add s to form

the plural; nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant add es to form the plural, except as indicated in the following list.

Iingenue

JjardiniereLlaissez fairelitterateur

Mmaterielmatineemelangemeleemenagemesalliancemetier

moire

Nnaivenaivetenee

Oopera bouff eopera comique

Ppapier machepiece de resistancepleiadeporte cochereporte lumiere

portierepousse cafepremiereprotege (masc., fem.)puree

Rralerechercheregimerisque rolerotisserieroue

Ssaute

seancesenorsmorgasbordsoireesouffl esuede

T

table d’hotetete-a-tetetragedienne

Vvicunavis-a-vis

à l’américaineattachébétonblessécalèchecañadacañonchargé

chargé d’aff airescongécrédit fonciercrédit mobiliercurédéjà vudétentedoña

entrepôtexposélongéronmañanamatémèrenacréoutré

passé (masc., fem.)pâtépèrepiñaprécisraisonnérésumétouché

albinosarmadillosavocadosbanjoscantoscascoscentosdidosduodecimosdynamosescudos

falsettosgauchosghettoshalosindigosinfernosjuntoskimonoslassosmagnetosmementos

merinosmestizosoctavosoctodecimospianospiccolospomelosprovisosquartossalvos

sextodecimossextossiroccossolostangelostobaccostwostyrosvirtuososzeros


Spelling 87

5.6. When a noun is hyphenated with an adverb or preposition, the plu-ral is formed on the noun.

comings-in hangers-on markers-upfi llers-in listeners-in passers-bygoings-on lookers-on swearers-in

5.7. When neither word is a noun, the plural is formed on the last word.also-rans go-betweens run-inscome-ons higher-ups tie-ins

5.8. In forming the plurals of compound terms, the signifi cant word takes the plural form.

Signifi cant word fi rst: adjutants general aides-de-camp ambassadors at large attorneys at law attorneys general billets-doux bills of fare brothers-in-law chargés d’aff aires chiefs of staff commanders in chief comptrollers general consuls general courts-martial crepes suzette daughters-in-law governors general grants-in-aid heirs at law inspectors general men-of-war ministers-designate mothers-in-law notaries public pilots-in-command postmasters general presidents-elect prisoners of war reductions in force

rights-of-way secretaries general sergeants at arms sergeants major solicitors general surgeons general

Signifi cant word in middle: assistant attorneys general assistant chiefs of staff assistant comptrollers general assistant surgeons general

Signifi cant word last: assistant attorneys assistant commissioners assistant corporation counsels assistant directors assistant general counsels brigadier generals deputy judges deputy sheriff s general counsels judge advocates judge advocate generals lieutenant colonels major generals provost marshals provost marshal generals quartermaster generals


88 Chapter 5

5.9. Nouns ending with ful form the plural by adding s at the end; if it is necessary to express the idea that more than one container was fi lled, the two elements of the solid compound are printed as sepa-rate words and the plural is formed by adding s to the noun.

fi ve bucketfuls of the mixture (one bucket fi lled fi ve times)fi ve buckets full of earth (separate buckets)three cupfuls of fl our (one cup fi lled three times)three cups full of coff ee (separate cups)

5.10. Th e following list comprises other words the plurals of which may cause diffi culty.

trade unions under secretaries vice chairmen

Both words equally signifi cant: Bulletins Nos. 27 and 28 not Bulletin Nos. 27 and 28 but Bulletin No. 27 or 28 coats of arms masters at arms men buyers

men employees secretaries-treasurers women aviators

No word signifi cant in itself: forget-me-nots hand-me-downs jack-in-the-pulpits man-of-the-earths pick-me-ups will-o’-the-wisps

addendum, addendaadieu, adieusagendum, agendaalga, algaealumnus, alumni (masc.); alumna, alumnae (fem.)antenna, antennas (antennae, zoology)appendix, appendixesaquarium, aquariumsautomaton, automatonsaxis, axesbandeau, bandeauxbasis, basesbateau, bateauxbeau, beauscactus, cactusescalix, calicescargo, cargoeschassis (singular and plural)

cherub, cherubscicatrix, cicatricesCo., Cos.coccus, cocciconsortium, consortiacorrigendum, corrigendacrisis, crisescriterion, criteriacurriculum, curriculumsdatum (singular), data (plural, but singular in collective sense)desideratum, desideratadilettante, dilettantidogma, dogmasellipsis, ellipsesequilibrium, equilibriums (equilibria, scientifi c)erratum, errataexecutrix, executricesfl ambeau, fl ambeaus


Spelling 89

Endings “ible” and “able”5.11. Th e following words end in ible; other words in this class end in able.

focus, focusesfolium, foliaformula, formulasforum, forumsfungus, fungigenius, geniusesgenus, generagladiolus (singular and plural)helix, heliceshypothesis, hypothesesindex, indexes (indices, scientifi c)insigne, insigniaitalic (singular and plural)Kansas Cityslacuna, lacunaelarva, larvaelarynx, larynxeslens, lenseslira, lirelocus, locimadam, mesdamesMarysmatrix, matricesmaximum, maximumsmedium, mediums or mediamemorandum, memorandumsminimum, minimumsminutia, minutiaemonsieur, messieursnucleus, nucleioasis, oasesoctopus, octopusesopus, operaparenthesis, parentheses

phenomenon, phenomenaphylum, phylaplateau, plateauspodium, podiumsprocès-verbal, procès-verbauxradius, radiiradix, radixesreferendum, referendumssanatorium, sanatoriumssanitarium, sanitariumsseptum, septasequela, sequelaeseraph, seraphsseta, setaeski, skisstadium, stadiumsstimulus, stimulistratum, stratastylus, stylusessyllabus, syllabusessymposium, symposiasynopsis, synopsestableau, tableaustaxi, taxisterminus, terminitestatrix, testatricesthesaurus, thesaurithesis, thesesthorax, thoraxesvertebra, vertebras (vertebrae, zoology)virtuoso, virtuososvortex, vortexes

abhorribleaccendibleaccessibleaddibleadducibleadmissible

appetibleapprehensibleaudibleavertiblebipartiblecircumscriptible

coctiblecoerciblecognosciblecohesiblecollapsiblecollectible(s)

combustiblecomestiblecommonsensiblecompactiblecompatiblecompetible


90 Chapter 5

compossiblecomprehensiblecompressibleconducibleconductibleconfl uxiblecongestiblecontemptiblecontrovertibleconversable (oral)conversible (convertible)convertibleconvinciblecorrigiblecorrodiblecorrosiblecorruptiblecrediblecruciblecullibledecoctiblededucibledeductibledefeasibledefectibledefensibledelibledeprehensibledepressibledescendibledestructiblediff rangiblediff usibledigestibledimensiblediscerniblediscerpiblediscerptiblediscussibledispersibledissectibledistensible

distractibledivertibledivestibledivisibledocibleedibleeducibleeff ectibleeff ervescibleeligibleeludibleerodibleevasibleeversibleevincibleexemptibleexhaustibleexigibleexpansibleexplosibleexpressibleextensiblefalliblefeasiblefenciblefl exiblefl uxibleforciblefrangiblefungiblefusiblegulliblehorribleignitibleillegibleimmersibleimmiscibleimpartibleimpatibleimpedibleimperceptibleimpermissibleimperscriptible

impersuasibleimplausibleimpossibleimprescriptibleimputrescibleinaccessibleinadmissibleinapprehensibleinaudibleincircumscriptibleincoercibleincognoscribleincombustibleincommiscibleincompatibleincomprehensibleincompressibleinconcussibleincontrovertibleinconvertibleinconvincibleincorrigibleincorrodibleincorruptibleincredibleindefeasibleindefectibleindefensibleindelibleindeprehensibleindestructibleindigestibleindiscernibleindivertibleindivisibleindocibleinducibleineff ervescibleineligibleineludibleinevasibleinexhaustibleinexpansible

inexpressibleinfallibleinfeasibleinfl exibleinfractibleinfrangibleinfusibleinnascibleinscriptibleinsensibleinstructibleinsubmergibleinsuppressibleinsusceptibleintactibleintangibleintelligibleinterconvertibleinterruptibleintervisibleinvendibleinvertibleinvincibleinvisibleirascibleirreducibleirrefrangibleirremissibleirreprehensibleirrepressibleirresistibleirresponsibleirreversiblelegiblemandiblemarcesciblemisiciblenegligiblenexibleomissibleostensiblepartiblepassable (open)


Spelling 91

Endings “ise,” “ize,” and “yze”5.12. A large number of words have the termination ise, ize, or yze. Th e

letter l is followed by yze if the word expresses an idea of loosening or separating, as analyze; all other words of this class, except those end-ing with the suffi x wise and those in the following list, end in ize.

Endings “cede,” “ceed,” and “sede”5.13. Only one word ends in sede (supersede); only three end in ceed (ex-

ceed, proceed, succeed); all other words of this class end in cede (precede, secede, etc.).

advertiseadviseaff ranchiseapprise (to inform) apprize (to appraise)arisechastisecircumcisecomprise

compromisedemisedespisedevisedisenfranchisedisfranchisedisguiseempriseenfranchiseenterprise

exciseexerciseexorcisefranchiseimproviseincisemerchandisemisadvisemortisepremise

prise (to force) prize (to value)reprisereviserisesupervisesurmisesurprisetelevise

passible (feeling)perceptibleperfectiblepermissiblepersuasiblepervertibleplausiblepossibleprehensibleprescriptibleproducibleproductibleprotrusibleputresciblereceptibleredemptiblereducible

refl ectiblerefl exiblerefrangibleremissiblerenasciblerendiblereprehensiblerepressiblereproducibleresistibleresponsiblereversiblerevertiblerisiblerunciblesconcibleseducible

sensiblesponsiblesuasiblesubdivisiblesubmergiblesubmersiblesubvertiblesuggestiblesupersensiblesuppressiblesusceptiblesuspensibletangibletensibleterriblethuribletraducible

transmissibletransvertibletripartibleunadmissibleuncorruptibleunexhaustibleunexpressibleunintelligibleunresponsibleunsusceptiblevendiblevinciblevisiblevitrescible


92 Chapter 5

Doubled consonants5.14. A single consonant following a single vowel and ending in a

monosyllable or a fi nal accented syllable is doubled before a suffi x beginning with a vowel.

bag, bagging red, reddish butformat, formatting rob, robbing total, totaled, totalinginput, inputting transfer, transferred travel, traveled, traveling

5.15. If the accent in a derivative falls upon an earlier syllable than it does in the root word, the consonant is not doubled.

refer, reference prefer, preference infer, inference

Indefi nite articles5.16. Th e indefi nite article a is used before a consonant and an aspirated

h; an is used before a silent h and all vowels except u pronounced as in visual and o pronounced as in one.

a historic occasion an herbseller buta hotel an hour an H-U-D directivea human being an honor a HUD directivea humble man an oniona union an oyster

5.17. When a group of initials begins with b, c, d, g, j, k, p, q, t, u, v, w, y, or z, each having a consonant sound, the indefi nite article a is used.

a BLS compilation a GAO limitation a WWW searcha CIO fi nding a UFO sighting

5.18. When a group of initials begins with a, e, f, h, i, l, m, n, o, r, s, or x, each having a vowel sound, the indefi nite article an is used.

an AEC report an NSC (en) proclamationan FCC (ef) ruling an RFC (ahr) loan

5.19. Use of the indefi nite article a or an before a numerical expression is determined by the consonant or vowel sound of the beginning syllable.

an 11-year-old an VIII (eight) classifi cationa onetime winner a IV–F (four ef) category (military draft )a III (three) group a 4–H Club


Spelling 93

Geographic names5.20. Th e spelling of geographic names must conform to the decisions

of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) (http://geonames.usgs.gov). In the absence of such a decision, the U.S. Directory of Post Offi ces is to be used.

5.21. If the decisions or the rules of the BGN permit the use of either the local offi cial form or the conventional English form, it is the prerogative of the originating offi ce to select the form that is most suitable for the matter in hand; therefore, in marking copy or read-ing proof, it is required only to verify the spelling of the particular form used. GPO’s preference is for the conventional English form. Copy will be followed as to accents, but these should be consistent throughout the entire job.

Nationalities, etc.5.22. Th e table on Demonyms in Chapter 17 “Useful Tables” shows forms

to be used for nouns and adjectives denoting nationality.

5.23. In designating the natives of the States, the following forms will be used.

AlabamianAlaskanArizonanArkansanCalifornianColoradanConnecticuterDelawareanFloridianGeorgianHawaiianIdahoanIllinoisanIndianianIowanKansanKentuckian

LouisianianMainerMarylanderMassachusettsanMichiganianMinnesotanMississippianMissourianMontananNebraskanNevadanNew HampshiriteNew JerseyanNew MexicanNew YorkerNorth CarolinianNorth Dakotan

OhioanOklahomanOregonianPennsylvanianRhode IslanderSouth CarolinianSouth DakotanTennesseanTexanUtahnVermonterVirginianWashingtonianWest VirginianWisconsiniteWyomingite

94 Chapter 5

5.24. Observe the following forms: African-American Alaska Native (Aleuts, Eskimos, Indians of Alaska) Amerindian Native American (American Indian) Puerto Rican Part-Hawaiian (legal status)but part-Japanese, etc.

Native American words5.25. Words, including tribal and other proper names of Indian, Aleut,

Hawaiian, and other groups, are to be followed literally as to spell-ing and the use of spaces, hyphens, etc.

Transliteration5.26. In the spelling of nongeographic words transliterated from Chinese,

Japanese, or any other language that does not have a Latin alphabet, copy is to be followed literally.


Documents

5. Spelling - GPO. Spelling (See also Chapter 7 ... 5.1. GPO uses Webster’s Th ird New International Dictionary as its ... maze (labyrinth) maneuver manifold manikin (dwarf