Adding affixes to existing words (the base) to form new words is common
in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like
dislike), whereas suffixes are added to the end of the base
(active
activate). Prefixes usually do not change the class of the
base word, but suffixes usually do change the class of the word.
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are: re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-. The most common suffixes are: -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. By far the most common affix in academic English is -ise.
e.g. verbs + prefix
verb
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| re- | again or back | restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild, refinance |
| dis- | reverses the meaning of the verb | disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect, discontinue |
| over- | too much | overbook, oversleep, overwork |
| un- | reverses the meaning of the verb | unbend, uncouple, unfasten |
| mis- | badly or wrongly | mislead, misinform, misidentify |
| out- | more or better than others | outperform, outbid |
| be- | make or cause | befriend, belittle |
| co- | together | co-exist, co-operate, co-own |
| de- | do the opposite of | devalue, deselect |
| fore- | earlier, before | foreclose, foresee |
| inter- | between | interact, intermix, interface |
| pre- | before | pre-expose, prejudge, pretest |
| sub- | under/below | subcontract, subdivide |
| trans- | across, over | transform, transcribe, transplant |
| under- | not enough | underfund, undersell, undervalue, underdevelop |
e.g. Suffix used to form verbs with the meaning "cause to be".
| Suffix | Example |
|---|---|
| -ise | stabilise, characterise, symbolise, visualise, specialise |
| -ate | differentiate, liquidate, pollinate, duplicate, fabricate |
| -fy | classify, exemplify, simplify, justify |
| -en | awaken, fasten, shorten, moisten |
The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in academic English are: co- and sub-. The most common suffixes are: -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery. By far the most common noun affix in academic English is -tion.
e.g. noun+prefix
noun
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| anti- | against | anticlimax, antidote, antithesis |
| auto- | self | autobiography, automobile |
| bi- | two | bilingualism, biculturalism, bi-metalism |
| co- | joint | co-founder, co-owner, co-descendant |
| counter- | against | counter-argument, counter-example, counter-proposal |
| dis- | the converse of | discomfort, dislike |
| ex- | former | ex-chairman, ex-hunter |
| hyper- | extreme | hyperinflation, hypersurface |
| in- | the converse of | inattention, incoherence, incompatibility |
| in- | inside | inpatient, |
| inter- | between | interaction, inter-change, interference |
| kilo- | thousand | kilobyte |
| mal- | bad | malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition |
| mega- | million | megabyte |
| mis- | wrong | misconduct, misdeed, mismanagement |
| mini- | small | mini-publication, mini-theory |
| mono- | one | monosyllable, monograph, monogamy |
| neo- | new | neo-colonialism, neo-impressionism |
| out- | separate | outbuilding, |
| poly- | many | polysyllable |
| pseudo- | false | pseudo-expert |
| re- | again | re-organisation, re-assessment, re-examination |
| semi- | half | semicircle, semi-darkness |
| sub- | below | subset, subdivision |
| super- | more than, above | superset, superimposition, superpowers |
| sur- | over and above | surtax |
| tele- | distant | telecommunications, |
| tri- | three | tripartism |
| ultra- | beyond | ultrasound |
| under- | below, too little | underpayment, under-development, undergraduate |
| vice- | deputy | vice-president |
e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A)
noun
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -tion | action/instance of V-ing | alteration, demonstration |
| -ity | state or quality of being A | ability, similarity, responsibility |
| -er | person who V-s something used for V-ing person concerned with N |
advertiser, driver computer, silencer astronomer, geographer |
| -ness | state or quality of being A | darkness, preparedness, consciousness |
| -ism | doctrine of N | Marxism, Maoism, Thatcherism |
| -ment | action/instance of V-ing | development, punishment, unemployment |
| -ant/-ent | person who V-s | assistant, consultant, student |
| -ship | state of being N | friendship, citizenship, leadership |
| -age | collection of N action/result of V |
baggage, plumage breakage, wastage, package |
| -ery/-ry | action/instance of V-ing place of V-ing |
bribery, robbery, misery refinery, bakery |
Many adjectives are formed from a base of a different class with a suffix (e.g. -less, -ous). Adjectives can also be formed from other adjectives, especially by the negative prefixes (un-, in- and non-).
The most common suffixes are -al, -ent, -ive, -ous, -ful, -less.
e.g. Suffix added to verbs or nouns
adjective
| Suffix | Examples |
|---|---|
| -al | central, political, national, optional, professional |
| -ent | different, dependent, excellent |
| -ive | attractive, effective, imaginative, repetitive |
| -ous | continuous, dangerous, famous |
| -ful | beautiful, peaceful, careful |
| -less | endless, homeless, careless, thoughtless |
| -able | drinkable, countable, avoidable, |
e.g. adjective + negative
adjective
| Prefix | Examples |
|---|---|
| un- | unfortunate, uncomfortable, unjust |
| im-/in-/ir-/il- | immature, impatient, improbable, inconvenient, irreplaceable, illegal |
| non- | non-fiction, non-political, non-neutral |
| dis- | disloyal, dissimilar, dishonest |
e.g. base with both prefix and suffix
| -able | -tion | -tive | -ment | -ar | |
| un- | uncomfortable unavoidable unforgettable |
unimaginative | |||
| mis- | misinformation | misjudgement mismanagement |
|||
| re- | recoverable recyclable |
reformulation | reproductive | realignment repayment |
|
| in- | irreplaceable | incoordination inattention |
inactive inoperative |
||
| dis- | disconnection | disappointment | |||
| semi- | semiconductive | semi-circular |