Cia's Weekend Writing Challenge #4: Prefix and Suffix--Say What Now?

[Cia]

It's probably been a long time since you've had this lesson in school on root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Do you remember what they all are? I know most of us are probably hazy on the specific details, right? So let's get the basics out of the way, and get on to the fun part of the challenge! 

 

Root Words: The most basic part of the word, the 'root' that still has a meaning on its own. 

Prefix: word part added at the beginning of a root word to change the meaning of the word. 

Suffix: word part added at the end of a root word to change the meaning or tense of the word. 

 

So, what are some great, descriptive suffix and prefix examples? 

Lovely: Love + ly

Misbehave: Mis + behave

Impossible: Im + possible

Nonsense: Non + sense

Submerge: Sub + merge

Unhappiness: Un + happy + ness

Artist: Art + ist

Handful: Hand + ful

 

So why is it important for authors to know what these are? Well, as an author, it's important to know how to spell. Knowing what basic prefixes and suffixes are and how to spell them helps when spelling longer compound words. You can break them down. Spellcheck doesn't catch everything. And, as I've said many times, shades of meaning really does matter. Knowing the difference between what the prefix un versus dis does to a root word matters. 

 

Resources:

Great website source of root words

pdf source with common prefix and suffix with definitions

longer list of suffixes-with definitions

Prefix/Suffix/Root list

 

Challenge: 

Use the resources list above to create a word with a prefix or suffix, or both, that is NOT in the dictionary but "could" be a real word for a character to use. Make sure you break down the root word with the definition and the prefix or suffix for us. You can either use it in a story or flash fiction piece you post this week in Stories and link us to it here (share the word, of course, so we know what we're looking for) or write a line or paragraph you share here. 

[Dolores Esteban]

I rewrote a poem.

 

Hyperspace

[Comicality]

 

I'm definitely guilty of breaking a lot of rules when writing, but as far as spelling and certain expressions, I do it as a quirk or awkward expression of one of my characters. Not because I don't know the proper way of using a certain term, but because I'm trying to convey the message through the eyes of a teenager who is still learning to express himself for the first time. So, I'm sure I've got an uncountable amount of words in my stories for this challenge, already! LOL! (Is 'uncountable' even a word? I should look that up)

 

But, since I write in the first person, I'm a bit more 'free' with the words that I use. Since most of my characters are young and experiencing their first love, that also gives me a bit more freedom in the way the perceive things in real time. So, I might be biased on this challenge.

 

 

[Cia]

Well, new words are added to the dictionary all the time. Language is an evolution... but to evolve, it's important to know where it comes from first. 

[Brayon]

5 minutes ago, Cia said:

Well, new words are added to the dictionary all the time. Language is an evolution... but to evolve, it's important to know where it comes from first. 

It's like the story behind the word "Quiz." Someone made it up wrote it on a wall, and eventually, people all over started using it.