Need help with spelling rule.

[Hot Lava Mama]

My understanding is that when a consonant suffix is added, no change is needed to the root word.

 

For example, shy + ness = shyness

Why then, is happy + ness = happiness?

Why then is steady + ly = steadily?

 

I am confused with regard to the "y" rule. I know the "consonant y, change y to i rule", but I thought that was only for vowel suffixes. (doesn't seem to apply to "shy" since it is consonant y at the end)

 

What is wrong with my understanding of the spelling rules? Is there a rule breaker or something going on here?

Thanks for your help.

Hot Lava Mama

[Ellie]

My understanding is that when a consonant suffix is added, no change is needed to the root word.

 

For example, shy + ness = shyness

Why then, is happy + ness = happiness?

Why then is steady + ly = steadily?

 

I am confused with regard to the "y" rule. I know the "consonant y, change y to i rule", but I thought that was only for vowel suffixes. (doesn't seem to apply to "shy" since it is consonant y at the end)

 

What is wrong with my understanding of the spelling rules? Is there a rule breaker or something going on here?

Thanks for your help.

Hot Lava Mama

The "y" in "shy" is acting as a vowel, not a consonant. :-)

 

IIRC, if a word has two syllables, you change the y to i when adding a suffix.

 

Steady is the base word. Two syllables. You change the y to i and add the suffix.

[Hot Lava Mama]

Now I get it. That makes sense. Thank you so much!!!

:)

[morosophe]

Also, the "y" in "shy" is pronounced "hard i," not "hard e," if you will.

 

So obviously it's already working differently than the "y" in "happy" or "steady."

[Ellie]

Now I get it. That makes sense. Thank you so much!!!:)

YW. :) All these years of Spalding must have rubbed off on me. :lol: