Affixes and roots

Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) 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.

Verbs

e.g. prefix + verb verb

Prefix Meaning Examples

restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild,
re- again or back
refinance
reverses the meaning of disappear, disallow, disarm,
dis-
the verb disconnect, discontinue
over- too much overbook, oversleep, overwork
reverses the meaning of
un- unbend, uncouple, unfasten
the verb
mis- badly or wrongly mislead, misinform, misidentify
more or better than
out- outperform, outbid
others
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
 underfund, undersell, undervalue,
under- not enough
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

Nouns

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. prefix + noun 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-argument, counter-example, counter-
counter- against
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
more than,
super- superset, superimposition, superpowers
above
sur- over and above surtax
tele- distant telecommunications,
tri- three tripartism
ultra- beyond ultrasound
underpayment, under-development,
under- below, too little
undergraduate
vice- deputy vice-president

e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A) noun

Suffix Meaning Examples

-tion alteration, demonstration
action/instance of V-ing
-sion expansion, inclusion, admission
-er person who V-s advertiser, driver
something used for V- computer, silencer
 ing
development, punishment,
-ment action/instance of V-ing
unemployment
-ant assistant, consultant
person who V-s
-ent student
-age action/result of V breakage, wastage, package
-al action/result of V denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal
-ence preference, dependence, interference
action/result of V
-ance attendance, acceptance, endurance
action/instance of V-ing bribery, robbery, misery
-ery/-ry
place of V-ing refinery, bakery

Suffix Meaning Examples

-er person concerned with N astronomer, geographer
-ism doctrine of N Marxism, Maoism, Thatcherism
-ship state of being N friendship, citizenship, leadership
-age collection of N baggage, plumage

Suffix Meaning Examples

state or quality of being ability, similarity, responsibility,
-ity
A curiosity
state or quality of being
-ness darkness, preparedness, consciousness
A
state or quality of being
-cy urgency, efficiency, frequency
A

Adjectives

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 Example
-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. negative + adjective adjective

Prefix Examples
un- unfortunate, uncomfortable, unjust
immature, impatient, improbable, inconvenient, irreplaceable,
im-/in-/ir-/il-
illegal
non- non-fiction, non-political, non-neutral
dis- disloyal, dissimilar, dishonest