A Doubling the Final Consonant HG
1 Monosyllable words having one vowel followed by a final single consonant double the consonant before a suffix which begins with a vowel (-ing, -ed, -er, -ar, etc.).
Bar + ing = Barring
Let+ ing =Letting
Bar + ed = Barred
Rob + ed = Robbed
Hit+ing = Hitting
Run + er = Runner
Big+er = Bigger
Dim + ed= Dimmed
Blot + ed = Blotted
Nod + ed = Nodded
Blot+ing=Blotting
Stir + ed = Stirred
Fit + ing= Fitting
Nob + ed = Nobbed
Beg + ar= Beggar
Plan + ed = Planned
Knit + ed = Knitted
Shop + ing = Shopping
Sit + ing = Sitting
Quit + ing = Quitting
Cut + ing = Cutting
(qu here is considered as one consonant)
Hum + ing = Humming
But the final consonant is not doubled if the word ends in two consonants or if it has a double vowel before the final consonant.
Look at the following examples :
Help + ed = Helped (two consonants)
Keep + ing = Keeping (two vowels)
Love + er = Lover (ending in a vowel)
Roast + ing = Roasting (two vowels, also two consonants)
Bleed + ing = Bleeding (two vowels)
Cool + ing = Cooling (two vowels)
Cool + ed = Cooled (two vowels)
Gain + ing = Gaining (two vowels)
Soar + ed = Soared (two vowels)
Wood + en = Wooden (two vowels)
Read + ing = Reading (two vowels)
Click Here Daily Use Vocabulary Words
2 In the case of words of more than one syllable ending with a single consonant, this consonant is doubled if preceded by a single vowel and if the accent is on the last syllable :
Acquit + ed = Acquitted
Begi'n + ing = Beginning
Begi'n + er = Beginner
Commi't + ed = Committed
Compe'l + ed = Compelled
Omi't+ ed = Omitted
Occu'r + ed= Occurred
Transfe'r ed = Transferred
Recu'r + ing = Recurring
Dete'r+ ed = Deterred
Refe'r + ed = Referred
Permit + ed = Permitted
The final consonant is not doubled if the last syllable is not accented. Mark the following examples :
A'nswer + ed = Answered
O'ffer + ed= Offered
Su'ffer + ed = Suffered
Be'nefit + ed= Benefited
Benefit + ing = Benefiting
Fi'llet+ ed= Filleted
Bu'dget + ed = Budgeted
Bi'as+ ed = Biased (or Biassed)
Fo'cus + ed= Focused (or, Focussed)
Di'ffer+ence = Difference
O'rbit= Orbiting
Mu' rmur + ed = Murmured
A'lter + ing = Altering
Pro'fit+ ed = Profited
Gos'sip+ ing = Gossiping
V'isit+ing= Visiting
[EXCEPTIONS Handicap + ed = Handicapped]
Kidnap + ed = Kidnapped
Worship + ed = Worshipped
Worship + ing = Worshipping
Parallel + ed (Paralleled or, Parallelled)
B The Final 'l'
1. Words ending in 'following a single vowel or two vowels pronounced separately usually double the l, even when the accent does not fall on the last syllable :
Appal + ed Appalled
Cancel + ed = Cancelled
Cruel + ly Cruelly
Dial + ed = Dialled
Distil + er = Distiller
Duel + ist = Duellist
Impel + ed= Impelled
Jewel+er= Jeweller
Level + ed = Levelled
Model+ ing Modelling
Repel+ ent=Repellent
Refuel + ed = Refuelled
Revel+ ing = Revelling
Signal + ed = Signalled
Quarrel + ed = Quarrelled
Quarrel + ing = Quarrelling
Devil + ed = Devilled
Carol+ ing=Carolling
Signal + ed=Signalled
Travel + ed= Travelled
Travel+ ing = Travelling
[EXCEPTIONS: Parallel + ed = Paralleled, Peril + ous = Perilous]
Single 'l's are not doubled before the suffixes -ish, -ism, -ist and -ment.
Devil + ish = Devilish
Fulfil + ment = Fulfilment
Moral + ist = Moralist
Real + ism = Realism
2 If a final 'l' is preceded by two vowels, the 'l' is not normally doubled before a suffix beginning with a vowel, e.g.
Feel + ing Feeling
Deal + ing= Dealing
Heal + ing = Healing
EXCEPTIONS: Wool + en = Woollen
3 In the case of words ending in double 'Il', sometimes one of the l's is dropped when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added, but sometimes it is retained, e.g.
Ill + ness = Illness
Full + ness = Fullness
Still + ness = Stillness
Will + full = Wilful
Skill + full = Skilful
Well + come = welcome
Well + fare = welfare
Well + being = wellbeing
Well + known = wellknown