Clark Barrow

Spelling Stages

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Affix: "2. Linguistics A word element, such as a prefix or suffix, that can only occur attached to a base, stem, or root" (Pickey, 2002, p. 23)

Recognition of affixes usually begins in the syllables and affixes stage in grades 3 through 8 (Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton, & Johnston, 2004). In this stage, students begin to consider the meanings of additions to words. In some cases, the text gives contextual clues to these meanings. However, "unfamiliar multisyllabic words" (p. 17) requires Word Study. Early stages of word study include the study of the plural endings -s and -es. This continues with the study of compound words and endings such as -ed, doubling as seen in stopping and stopped, and E drop, as seen in skating. The study of affixes continues with open and closed syllables such as button and happy, and two-syllable Homophones such as pedal, petal, and rebel. Late stages in the sequence of studying affixes continues with simple prefixes such as un in unlock and simple suffixes such as -y in jumpy.

Many words today are combinations of Latin and Greek stems, or roots, and affixes, which are prefixes and suffixes (Dolle, 1993). Examples are atmosphere, dental, and illumination. The combination of Latin and Greek stems to affixes continues today; however, since we no longer study Latin and Greek (for the most part) the trend is now to substitute the “English equivalents if possible” (para. 6).

Dolle, R. (1993). Latin is Greek to me. Journal of Environmental Health. 56(3), 37+.

Picket, J. P. (Executive Ed.). (2002). American heritage college dictionary (4th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Bear, D. R., Invernizzi, M., Templeton, S., & Johnston, F. (2004). Words their way: Word study for phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction (3rd ed.). Upper Saddler River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.