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U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual/Spelling

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U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual (2008)
United States Government Printing Office
Spelling
Compounding Rules
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​
5.1.
GPO uses Webster's Third New International Dictionary as its guide for the spelling of words not appearing in the GPO Style Manual. Colloquial and dialect spellings are not used unless required by the subject matter or specially requested. The tendency of some producers of computer-assisted publications to rely on the limited capability of some spell-checking programs adds importance to this list.
Preferred and difficult spellings
5.2.

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.)

A
abattoir
aberration
abetter
abettor (law)
abridgment
absorb (take in)
adsorb (adhesion)
abysmal
a cappella
accede (yield)
exceed (surpass)
accepter
acceptor (law)
accessory
accommodate
accordion
accouter
accursed
acetic (acid)
ascetic (austere)
acknowledgment
acoustic
adapter
adjurer
adjuster
ad nauseam
adviser
advisor (law)
adz
aegis
aesthetic
affect (influence, v.)
effect (result, finish, n., v.)
afterward(s)
afterword
aging
aid (n., v.)
aide
aide-de-camp
albumen (egg)
albumin (chemistry)
align
allottee
all ready (prepared)
already (previous)
all right
altogether (completely)
all together (collectively)
aluminum
ambidextrous
amoeba
ampoule
analog
analogous
anemia
anesthetic
aneurysm
anomalous
anonymous
antediluvian
antibiotics (n.)
antibiotic (adj.)
anyway (adv.)
anywise (adv.)
appall, -ed, -ing
appareled, -ing
aquatic
aqueduct
archaeology
arrester
artifact
artisan
ascendance, -ant
ascent (rise)
assent (consent)
assassinate
athenaeum
attester
autogiro
awhile (for some time)
a while (a short time)
ax
aye
B
backward
baloney (nonsense)
bologna (sausage)
bandanna

​

bargainer
bargainor (law)
baritone
bark (boat)
barreled, -ing
bastille
bathyscaph
battalion
bazaar (event)
bizarre (strange on absurd)
behoove
beneficent
benefited, -ing
bettor (wagerer)
beveled, -ing
biased, -ing
blessed
bloc (group)
block (grants)
blond (masc, fem.)
bluing
born (birth)
borne (carried)
bouillon (soup)
bullion (metal)
boulder
bourgeoisie
breach (gap)
breech (lower part)
brier
briquet, -ted, -ting
Britannia
broadax
bronco
brunet (masc, fern.)
buccaneer
buncombe
bunion
bur
burned
bus, bused, buses, busing
butadiene
C
caffeine
calcareous
calcimine
caldron
calendar
calender (paper finish)
caliber
caliper
calk (spike)
caulk (seal)
calligraphy
callus (n.)
callous (adj.)
calorie
canceled, -ing
cancellation
candor
canister
cannot
canoeing
cantaloupe
canvas (cloth)
canvass (solicit)
capital (city, money)
capitol (building)
carabao (sing., pi.)
carat (gem weight)
caret (omission mark)
karat (gold weight)
carbureted, -ing
carburetor
Caribbean
caroled, -ing
carotene
carrot
cartilage
caster (roller)
castor (oil)
casual (informal)
causal (cause)
catalog, -ed, -ing
cataloger
catsup
caviar
caviled, -er, -ing
center
centipede
centrifugal
cesarean
chairmaned
chaise longue
chancellor
channeled, -ing
chaperon
chautauqua
chauvinism
chiffonier
chile con carne
chili (pepper)
chiseled, -ing
chlorophyll
cigarette
citable
cite (quote)
site (place)
clamor
climactic (climax)
climatic (climate)
cocaine
coconut
cocoon
coleslaw
colloquy
colossal
combated, -ing
commenter
commentor (law)
commingle
commiserate
complement (complete)
compliment (praise)
confectionery
confidant (masc, fem.)
confident (sure)
confirmer
confirmor (law)
conjurer
connecter
connector (road)
connoisseur
consecrator
consensus
consignor
consulter
consummate
contradicter
control, -lable, -ling
converter
conveyor
cookie
cornetist
corollary
corvette
councilor (of council)
counselor (adviser)
counseled, -ing
cozy
crawfish
creneled, -ing
crystaled, -ing
crystalline
crystallize
cudgeled, -ing
cyclopedia
czar
D
darndest
debarkation
decaffeinated

​

decalogue
defense
deliverer
deliveror (law)
demagogue
demarcation
dependent
descendant (n., adj.)
desecrater
desiccate
desuetude (suspended)
destitute (bereft)
detractor
develop, -ment
device (contrivance)
devise (convey)
dextrous (syllable division)
diaeresis
diaeretic
diuretic (water pill)
diagramed, -ing
diagrammatic
dialed, -ing
dialogue
dialysis
diaphragm
diarrhea
dickey
dietitian
diffuser
dike
dilettante
dinghy (boat)
diphtheria
discreet (prudent)
discrete (distinct)
disheveled, -ing
disk
dispatch
dissension
distention
distill, -ed, -ing, -ment
distributor
diverter
divorcee
doctoral
doctrinaire
doggerel
dossier
doweled, -ing
downward
dreadnought
dreamed
drought
dueled, -ing
duffelbag
dullness
dumfound
dwelt
dyeing (coloring)
dying (death)
E
eastward
ecstasy
edema
edgewise
electronics (n.)
electronic (adj.)
eleemosynary
elicit (to draw)
illicit (illegal)
embarrass
embed
embellish
emboweled, -ing
emboweler
emigrant (go from)
immigrant (go into)
emigree
eminent (famous)
imminent (soon)
employee
enameled, -ing
encage
encase
encave
enclasp
enclose
enclosure
encumber
encumbrance
encyclopedia
endorse, -ment
endwise
enfeeble
enforce, -ment
engraft
enroll, -ed, -ing, -ment
en shade
en sheathe
ensnare
ensure (guarantee)
insure (protect)
entrench
entrepreneur
entrust
entwine
envelop (v.)
envelope (n.)
enwrap
eon
epaulet, -ed, -ing
epiglottis
epilogue
equaled, -ing
erysipelas
escallop
escapable
esophagus
etiology
evacuee
evanescent
eviscerate
evocative
exhibitor
exhilarate
exonerate
exorbitant
expellant
exposé (n., exposure)
expose (v., to lay open)
exsiccate
extant (in existence)
extent (range)
extoll, -ed, -ing
eying
eyrie
F
fantasy
farther (distance)
further (degree)
favor
fecal
feces
fetal
fetish
fetus
fiber
fiche (microfiche)
filigree
finable
finagle
financier
fjord
flammable (not inflammable)
flection
fledgling
flexitime
flier
flotage
flotation
fluorescent
focused, -ing

​

folderal
forbade
forbear (endurance)
forebear (ancestor)
foresee
forgettable
forgo (relinquish)
forego (precede)
format, formatted,
formatting
forswear
fortissimo
forward (ahead)
foreword (preface)
fricassee
fuchsia
fueler
fulfill, -ed, -ing, -ment
fulsome
fungus (n., adj.)
funneled, -ing
furor
fuse (all meanings)
fuselage
fusillade
G
gaiety
gaily
galosh
gamboled, -ing
garrote
gauge
gazetteer
gelatin
genealogy
generalissimo
germane
glamorous
glamour
glycerin
gobbledygook
goodbye
graveled, -ing
gray
grievous
groveled, -ing
gruesome
guarantee (n., v.)
guaranty (n., law)
guerrilla (warfare)
gorilla (ape)
guesstimate
guttural
gypsy
H
hallelujah
hara-kiri
harass
harebrained
healthful (for health)
healthy (with health)
heinous
hemoglobin
hemorrhage
heterogeneous
hiccup
highfalutin
hijack
homeopath
homogeneity
homologue
hors d'oeuvre
hypocrisy
hypotenuse
I
idiosyncrasy
idle (inactive)
idol (statue)
idyll
imminent (soon)
eminent (famous)
impaneled, -ing
impasse
imperiled, -ing
impostor
impresario
imprimatur
inculcate
indict (to accuse)
indite (to compose)
inequity (unfairness)
iniquity (sin)
inferable
infold
ingenious (skillful)
ingenuous (simple)
innocuous
innuendo
inoculate
inquire, inquiry
install, -ed, -ing, -ment
installation
instill, -ed, -ing
insure (protect)
ensure (guarantee)
intelligentsia
interceptor
interment (burial)
internment (jail)
intern
intervener
intervenor (law)
intransigent (n., adj.)
iridescent
italic
J
jalopy
jalousie
jerry-(built)
jury- (rigged)
jeweled, -ing, -er
jewelry
judgeship
judgment
jujitsu
juxtaposition
K
karat
kerneled, -ing
kerosene
kidnapped, -ing
kidnapper
kilogram
knapsack
kopek
kumquat
L
labeled, -ing
lacquer
landward
lath (wood)
lathe (machine)
laureled
leukemia
leveled, -ing
leveler
liable (responsible)
libel (legal)
liaison
libelant
libeled, -ing
libelee
libeler
license
licenser (issuer)
licensor (grantor)
licorice
likable
lilliputian
linage (lines)
lineage (descent)
liquefy
liquor
liqueur
liter
livable

​

loath (reluctant)
loathe (detest)
lodestar
lodgment
lodestone
logistics (n.)
logistic (adj.)
louver
luster
lyonnaise
M
madam
Mafia
maim
maize (corn)
maze (labyrinth)
maneuver
manifold
manikin (dwarf)
mannequin (model)
mantel (shelf)
mantle (cloak)
marbleize
marijuana
marshaled, -ing
marshaler
marveled, -ing
marvelous
material (goods)
materiel (military)
meager
medaled, -ing
medalist
medieval
metaled, -ing
metalize
meteorology (weather)
metrology (weights and measures)
meter
mil (1⁄1000 inch)
mill (1⁄1000 dollar)
mileage
miliary (tuberculosis)
milieu
milk cow
millenary (1,000)
millinery (hats)
millennium
minable
missilery
misspell
miter
moccasin
modeled, -ing
modeler
mold
mollusk
molt
moneys
monogramed, -ing
monologue
mortise
movable
mucilage
mucus (n.)
mucous (adj.)
Muslim
mustache
N
naphtha
Navajo
nazism
neophyte
niacin
nickel
niter
nonplused
northward
Novocain (trademark)
novocaine (anesthetic)
numskull
O
obbligato
obloquy
ocher
octet
offal
offense
omelet
ophthalmology
opossum
orangutan
orbited, -ing
ordinance (law)
ordnance (military)
organdy
overseas or oversea
P
pajamas
paleontology
paneled, -ing
paraffin
paralleled, -ing
parallelepiped
parceled, -ing
partisan
pastime
patrol, -led, -ling
peccadillo
pedant (n.)
pedantic (adj.)
peddler
penciled, -ing
pendant (n.)
pendent (u.m.)
percent
peremptory (decisive)
preemptory (preference)
perennial
periled, -ing
permittee
perquisite (privilege)
prerequisite (requirement)
personal (individual)
personnel (staff)
perspective (view)
prospective (expected)
petaled, -ing
pharaoh
pharmacopeia
phoenix
phlegm
phony
phosphorus (n.)
phosphorous (adj.)
photostated
pickax
picnicking
pipet
plaque
plastics (n.)
plastic (adj.)
pledger
pledgor (law)
plenitude
pliers
plow
poleax
pollination
pommeled, -ing
pontoon
porcelaneous
practice (n., v.)
precedence (priority)
precedents (usage)
prerogative
pretense
preventive

​

principal (chief)
principle (proposition)
privilege
proffer
programmatic
programmed, -mer, -ming
prologue
promissory
pronunciation
propel, -led, -ling
propellant (n.)
propellent (adj.)
prophecy (n.)
prophesy (v.)
ptomaine
pubic (anatomy)
pulmotor
pusillanimous
Q
quarreled, -ing
quartet
quaternary
questionnaire
queue
R
raccoon
racket (all meanings)
rapprochement
rarefy
rarity
ratable
rational (adj.)
rationale (n.)
rattan
raveled, -ing
reconnaissance
reconnoiter
recyclable
referable
refuse
registrar
reinforce
relater
relator (law)
remodeler
renaissance
reparable
repellant (n.)
repellent (adj.)
requester
requestor (law)
rescission
responder (electronics)
responser (electronics)
reveled, -er, -ing
rhyme, rhythmic
RIFing, RIFed, RIFs
rivaled, -ing
roweled, -ing
ruble
S
saccharin (n.)
saccharine (adj.)
sacrilegious
salable
sandaled, -ing
savable
savanna
savior
Saviour (Christ)
scalloped, -ing
schizophrenia
scion (horticulture)
scurrilous
seismology
selvage (edging)
salvage (save)
sentineled, -ing
separate (v., adj.)
sepulcher
seriatim
settler
settlor (law)
sewage (waste)
sewerage (drain system)
sextet
Shakespearean
shellacking
shoveled, -ing
shriveled, -ing
sideward
signaled, -ing
siphon
site (place)
cite (quote)
sizable
skeptic
skillful
skulduggery
sleight (deft)
slight (meager)
smolder
sniveled, -ing
snorkel
soliloquy
sometime (formerly)
some time (some time ago)
some times (at times)
southward
spacious (space)
specious (deceptive)
specter
spirituous (liquor)
spirochete
spoliation
stationary (fixed)
stationery (paper)
statue (sculpture)
stature (height)
statute (law)
staunch
stenciled, -ing
stenciler
stifling
stratagem
stubbornness
stultify
stupefy
subpoena, -ed
subtlety
succor
sulfur (also derivatives)
sulfanilamide
sulfureted, -ing
supererogation
surfeit
surreptitious
surveillance
swiveled, -ing
sylvan
synonymous
syrup
T
taboo
tactician
tasseled, -ing
tattoo
taxied, -ing
technique
teetotaler
tercentenary
theater
therefor (for it)
therefore (for that reason)
thiamine
thralldom
thrash (beat)
thresh (grain)
threshold
tie, tied, tying
timber (wood)
timbre (tone)
tinseled, -ing
titer
tonsillitis

​

tormenter
totaled, -ing
toward
toweled, -ing
toxemia
trafficking
trammeled, -ing
tranquilize(r)
tranquillity
transcendent
transferable
transferor
transferred
transonic
transponder (electronics)
transshipment
traveled, -ing
traveler
travelogue
triptych
trolley
troop (soldiers)
troupe (actors)
troweled, -ing
tryptophan
tularemia
tunneled, -ing
tunneler
turquoise
typify
tyrannical
tyro
U
unctuous
unwieldy
upward
uremia
usable
V
vacillate
valance (drape)
valence (chemistry)
veld
veranda
vermilion
vicissitude
victualed, -ing
victualer
vilify
villain
visa, -ed, -ing
vitamin
vitrify
volcanism
voluntarism
votable
vying
W
wainscoting
warranter
warrantor (law)
warranty
weeviled, -ing
welder
westward
whimsy
whiskey, -s
willful
withe
woeful
woolen
woolly
worshiped, -er, -ing
Anglicized and foreign words
5.3.
Diacritical marks are not used with anglicized words.
A
abaca
aide memoire
a la carte
a la king
a la mode
angstrom
aperitif
applique
apropos
auto(s)-da-fe
B
blase
boutonniere
brassiere
C
cabana
cafe
cafeteria
caique
canape
cause celebre
chateau
cliche
cloisonne
comedienne
comme ci
comme ca
communique
confrere
consomme
cortege
coulee
coup de grace
coup d'etat
coupe
creme
crepe
crepe de chine
critique
critiquing
D
debacle
debris
debut
debutante
decollete
dejeuner
denouement
depot
dos-a-dos
E
eclair
eclat
ecru
elan
elite
entree
etude
F
facade
faience
faux pas
fete
fiance (masc, fem.)
frappe
G
garcon
glace
grille
gruyere
H
habitue
​
I
ingenue
J
jardiniere
L
laissez faire
litterateur
M
materiel
matinee
melange
melee
menage
mesalliance
metier
moire
N
naive
naivete
nee
O
opera bouffe
opera comique
P
papier mache
piece de resistance
pleiade
porte cochere
porte lumiere
portiere
pousse cafe
premiere
protege (masc, fem.)
puree
R
rale
recherche
regime
risque
role
rotisserie
roue
S
saute
seance
senor
smorgasbord
soiree
souffle
suede
T
table d'hote
tete-a-tete
tragedienne
V
vicuna
vis-a-vis
5.4.
Foreign words carry the diacritical marks as an essential part of their spelling.
à l'américaine
attaché
béton
blessé
calèche
cañada
cañon
chargé
chargé d'affaires
congé
crédit foncier
crédit mobilier
curé
déjà vu
détente
doña
entrepôt
exposé
longéron
mañana
maté
mère
nacré
outré
passé (masc, fem.)
pâté
père
piña
précis
raisonné
résumé
touché
Plural forms
5.5.
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.
albinos
armadillos
avocados
banjos
cantos
cascos
centos
didos
duodecimos
dynamos
escudos
falsettos
gauchos
ghettos
halos
indigos
infernos
juntos
kimonos
lassos
magnetos
mementos
merinos
mestizos
octavos
octodecimos
pianos
piccolos
pomelos
provisos
quartos
salvos
sextodecimos
sextos
siroccos
solos
tangelos
tobaccos
twos
tyros
virtuosos
zeros
​
5.6.

When a noun is hyphenated with an adverb or preposition, the plural is formed on the noun.

comings-in
fillers-in
goings-on
hangers-on
listeners-in
lookers-on
markers-up
passers-by
swearers-in
5.7.

When neither word is a noun, the plural is formed on the last word.

also-rans
come-ons
go-betweens
higher-ups
run-ins
tie-ins
5.8.
In forming the plurals of compound terms, the significant word takes the plural form.
Significant word first:
adjutants general
aides-de-camp
ambassadors at large
attorneys at law
attorneys general
billets-doux
bills of fare
brothers-in-law
charges d'affaires
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
Significant word in middle:
assistant attorneys general
assistant chiefs of staff
assistant comptrollers general
assistant surgeons general
Significant word last:
assistant attorneys
assistant commissioners
assistant corporation counsels
assistant directors
assistant general counsels
brigadier generals
deputy judges
deputy sheriffs
general counsels
judge advocates
judge advocate generals
lieutenant colonels
major generals
provost marshals
provost marshal generals
quartermaster generals

​

trade unions
under secretaries
vice chairmen
men employees
secretaries-treasurers
women aviators
Both words equally significant:
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
No word significant in itself:
forget-me-nots
hand-me-downs
jack-in-the-pulpits
man-of-the-earths
pick-me-ups
will-o'-the-wisps
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 filled, the two elements of the solid compound are printed as separate words and the plural is formed by adding s to the noun.

five bucketfuls of the mixture (one bucket filled five times)
five buckets full of earth (separate buckets)
three cupfuls of flour (one cup filled three times)
three cups full of coffee (separate cups)
5.10.
The following list comprises other words the plurals of which may cause difficulty.
addendum, addenda
adieu, adieus
agendum, agenda
alga, algae
alumnus, alumni (masc); alumna, alumnae (fern.)
antenna, antennas (antennae, zoology)
appendix, appendixes
aquarium, aquariums
automaton, automatons
axis, axes
bandeau, bandeaux
basis, bases
bateau, bateaux
beau, beaus
cactus, cactuses
calix, calices
cargo, cargoes
chassis (singular and plural)
cherub, cherubs
cicatrix, cicatrices
Co., Cos.
coccus, cocci
consortium, consortia
corrigendum, corrigenda
crisis, crises
criterion, criteria
curriculum, curriculums
datum (singular), data (plural, but singular in collective sense)
desideratum, desiderata
dilettante, dilettanti
dogma, dogmas
ellipsis, ellipses
equilibrium, equilibriums (equilibria, scientific)
erratum, errata
executrix, executrices
flambeau, flambeaus

​

focus, focuses
folium, folia
formula, formulas
forum, forums
fungus, fungi
genius, geniuses
genus, genera
gladiolus (singular and plural)
helix, helices
hypothesis, hypotheses
index, indexes (indices, scientific)
insigne, insignia
italic (singular and plural)
Kansas Citys
lacuna, lacunae
larva, larvae
larynx, larynxes
lens, lenses
lira, lire
locus, loci
madam, mesdames
Marys
matrix, matrices
maximum, maximums
medium, mediums or media
memorandum, memorandums
minimum, minimums
minutia, minutiae
monsieur, messieurs
nucleus, nuclei
oasis, oases
octopus, octopuses
opus, opera
parenthesis, parentheses
phenomenon, phenomena
phylum, phyla
plateau, plateaus
podium, podiums
proces-verbal, proces-verbaux
radius, radii
radix, radixes
referendum, referendums
sanatorium, sanatoriums
sanitarium, sanitariums
septum, septa
sequela, sequelae
seraph, seraphs
seta, setae
ski, skis
stadium, stadiums
stimulus, stimuli
stratum, strata
stylus, styluses
syllabus, syllabuses
symposium, symposia
synopsis, synopses
tableau, tableaus
taxi, taxis
terminus, termini
testatrix, testatrices
thesaurus, thesauri
thesis, theses
thorax, thoraxes
vertebra, vertebras (vertebrae, zoology)
virtuoso, virtuosos
vortex, vortexes
Endings "ible" and "able"
5.11.

The following words end in ible; other words in this class end in able.

abhorrible
accendible
accessible
addible
adducible
admissible
appetible
apprehensible
audible
avertible
bipartible
circumscriptible
coctible
coercible
cognoscible
cohesible
collapsible
collectible(s)
combustible
comestible
commonsensible
compactible
compatible
competible

​

compossible
comprehensible
compressible
conducible
conductible
confluxible
congestible
contemptible
controvertible
conversable (oral)
conversible
convertible
convincible
corrigible
corrodible
corrosible
corruptible
credible
crucible
cullible
decoctible
deducible
deductible
defeasible
defectible
defensible
delible
deprehensible
depressible
descendible
destructible
diffrangible
diffusible
digestible
dimensible
discernible
discerpible
discerptible
discussible
dispersible
dissectible
distensible
distractible
divertible
divestible
divisible
docible
edible
educible
effectible
effervescible
eligible
eludible
erodible
evasible
eversible
evincible
exemptible
exhaustible
exigible
expansible
explosible
expressible
extensible
fallible
feasible
fencible
flexible
fluxible
forcible
frangible
fungible
fusible
gullible
horrible
ignitible
illegible
immersible
immiscible
impartible
impatible
impedible
imperceptible
impermissible
imperscriptible
impersuasible
implausible
impossible
imprescriptible
imputrescible
inaccessible
inadmissible
inapprehensible
inaudible
incircumscriptible
incoercible
incognoscrible
incombustible
incommiscible
incompatible
incomprehensible
incompressible
inconcussible
incontrovertible
inconvertible
inconvincible
incorrigible
incorrodible
incorruptible
incredible
indefeasible
indefectible
indefensible
indelible
indeprehensible
indestructible
indigestible
indiscernible
indivertible
indivisible
indocible
inducible
ineffervescible
ineligible
ineludible
inevasible
inexhaustible
inexpansible
inexpressible
infallible
infeasible
inflexible
infractible
infrangible
infusible
innascible
inscriptible
insensible
instructible (convertible)
insubmergible
insuppressible
insusceptible
intactible
intangible
intelligible
interconvertible
interruptible
intervisible
invendible
invertible
invincible
invisible
irascible
irreducible
irrefrangible
irremissible
irreprehensible
irrepressible
irresistible
irresponsible
irreversible
legible
mandible
marcescible
misicible
negligible
nexible
omissible
ostensible
partible
passable (open) ​
passible (feeling)
perceptible
perfectible
permissible
persuasible
pervertible
plausible
possible
prehensible
prescriptible
producible
productible
protrusible
putrescible
receptible
redemptible
reducible
reflectible
reflexible
refrangible
remissible
renascible
rendible
reprehensible
repressible
reproducible
resistible
responsible
reversible
revertible
risible
runcible
sconcible
seducible
sensible
sponsible
suasible
subdivisible
submergible
submersible
subvertible
suggestible
supersensible
suppressible
susceptible
suspensible
tangible
tensible
terrible
thurible
traducible
transmissible
transvertible
tripartible
unadmissible
uncorruptible
unexhaustible
unexpressible
unintelligible
unresponsible
unsusceptible
vendible
vincible
visible
vitrescible
Endings "ise," "ize," and "yze"
5.12.

A large number of words have the termination ise, ize, or yze. The 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 ending with the suffix wise and those in the following list, end in ize.

advertise
advise
affranchise
apprise (to inform)
apprize (to appraise)
arise
chastise
circumcise
comprise
compromise
demise
despise
devise
disenfranchise
disfranchise
disguise
emprise
enfranchise
enterprise
excise
exercise
exorcise
franchise
improvise
incise
merchandise
misadvise
mortise
premise
prise (to force)
prize (to value)
reprise
revise
rise
supervise
surmise
surprise
televise
Endings "cede," "ceed," and "sede"
5.13.
Only one word ends in sede (supersede); only three end in ceed (exceed, proceed, succeed); all other words of this class end in cede (precede, secede, etc.).
​
Doubled consonants
5.14.

A single consonant following a single vowel and ending in a monosyllable or a final accented syllable is doubled before a suffix beginning with a vowel.

bag, bagging
format, formatting
input, inputting
red, reddish
rob, robbing
transfer, transferred
but
total, totaled, totaling
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
Indefinite articles
5.16.

The indefinite 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
a hotel
a human being
a humble man
a union
an herb seller
an hour
an honor
an onion
an oyster
but
an H-U-D directive
a HUD directive
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 indefinite article a is used.

a BLS compilation
a CIO finding
a GAO limitation
a UFO sighting
a WWW search
5.18.

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

an AEC report
an FCC (ef) ruling
an NSC (en) proclamation
an RFC (ahr) loan
5.19.

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

an 11-year-old
a onetime winner
a III (three) group
an VIII (eight) classification
a IV-F (four ef) category (military draft)
a 4-H Club
​
Geographic names
5.20.

The 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 Offices is to be used.

5.21.

If the decisions or the rules of the BGN permit the use of either the local official form or the conventional English form, it is the prerogative of the originating office to select the form which is most suitable for the matter in hand; therefore, in marking copy or reading 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.

The 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.

Alabamian
Alaskan
Arizonan
Arkansan
Californian
Coloradan
Connecticuter
Delawarean
Floridian
Georgian
Hawaiian
Kentuckian
Idahoan
Illinoisan
Indianian
Iowan
Kansan
Louisianian
Mainer
Marylander
Massachusettsan
Michiganian
Minnesotan
Mississippian
Missourian
Montanan
Nebraskan
Nevadan
New Hampshirite
New Jerseyan
New Mexican
New Yorker
North Carolinian
North Dakotan
Ohioan
Oklahoman
Oregonian
Pennsylvanian
Rhode Islander
South Carolinian
South Dakotan
Tennessean
Texan
Utahn
Vermonter
Virginian
Washingtonian
West Virginian
Wisconsinite
Wyomingite
​
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 words
5.25.

Words, including tribal and other proper names of Indian, Aleut, Hawaiian, and other groups, are to be followed literally as to spelling and the use of spaces, hyphens, etc.

Transliteration
5.26.
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.

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