Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Keep the E or drop it?
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:26 am    Post subject: Keep the E or drop it? Reply with quote

Livable or liveable?

Managable or manageable?

and a host of other examples...which do you prefer?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
MO39



Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I prefer keeping the e, but I can't give you a reason. I think that it just looks better.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
awest



Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Location: DF

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would have to agree that for me it's easier with the "e" and easier to explain. You raised a questions for me...which is the correct English spelling?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I prefer to keep the e but was struggling for a reason as to why. Online dictionaries seem to accept both livable and liveable but not managable or knowledgable.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I usually consult a dictionary to see the most frequent usage or the American English usage.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lozwich



Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guy Courchesne wrote:
Online dictionaries seem to accept both livable and liveable but not managable or knowledgable.


See, I think knowledgeable just looks weird.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The alternative is knowled-gable, which sounds like a Bushism to me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Dragonlady



Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

delete

Last edited by Dragonlady on Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Marcoregano



Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 872
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Swan's 'Practical English Usage' explains the relevant rules in some detail - but a bit too much to go into here!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MO39



Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dragonlady wrote:
Guy Courchesne wrote:
...Online dictionaries seem to accept both livable and liveable but not managable or knowledgable.
Off the top of my head, is it because the 'e' is required after 'g' to produce the soft 'j' sound , where as without the 'e' the 'g' would be hard?
Compare 'rang' and 'range'.


Sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Marcoregano



Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 872
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MO39 wrote:
Dragonlady wrote:
Guy Courchesne wrote:
...Online dictionaries seem to accept both livable and liveable but not managable or knowledgable.
Off the top of my head, is it because the 'e' is required after 'g' to produce the soft 'j' sound , where as without the 'e' the 'g' would be hard?
Compare 'rang' and 'range'.


Sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. Smile


Sounds reasonable, but isn't the reason! (according to Swan). He says with words that end -ce or -ge, we do not drop the -e before a or o. Thus:

replace = replaceable and courage = courageous

But... charge = charging, face = facing.

Judg(e)ment and acknowledg(e)ment can be spelt with or without the e after g, (he says).

And there's more...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dragonlady



Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

delete

Last edited by Dragonlady on Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Stephen Jones



Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'll find it's a BrE/AmE difference. The Americans tend to drop the 'e', the Brits to keep it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Laurence



Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 401

PostPosted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought this was going to be about disco biscuits Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MO39



Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Disco biscuits Question Is this a BrE/Am/E difference or a generation-gap thing? I have no idea what you're talking about! Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China