1001 Questions and Answers on Orthography and Reading | Page 6

The last syllable but three
in a word.
34. What other way may the syllables be described? In their numerical
order; as, first, second, etc.
35. How many syllables can a word have? As many as it has vowels or
diphthongs sounded.
36. How many words in the English language? About one hundred and
twenty thousand.
37. How are words divided in reference to form? Into simple and
compound.
38. How are they divided in reference to origin? Into primitive and
derivative.
39. What is a Simple word? One that is not composed of two or more
whole words.
40. What is a Compound word? One that is composed of two or more
distinct words.
41. What is a Primitive word? One in no way derived from another in

the same language.
42. What is a Radical word? Same as primitive.
43. What is a Derivative word? One formed by joining to a primitive
some letter or letters to modify its meaning.
44. What is Analysis? Separating a word or syllable into its elements or
parts.
45. What is Synthesis? The process of combining elements to form
syllables and words.
46. What is the Base of a Compound word? That word representing the
fundamental idea.
47. What is the Modifier in a Compound word? That word which
describes the other.
48. What is the Base of a Derivative word? The primitive from which it
is derived.
49. What is the Modifier in a Derivative word? The affix.
50. What is an Affix? That part of a derivative word attached to the
root.
51. How many Root words in the English language? Over one
thousand.
52. What is a Prefix? That part of a derivative word placed before the
root.
53. What is a Postfix? That part of a derivative word placed after the
root.
54. What is a Suffix? Same as a postfix.
55. What are Affixes? Prefixes and postfixes together are called affixes.

56. How many kinds of Derivatives are there? Two.
57. What are they? Regular and irregular.
58. What is a Regular derivative? One that is formed by the addition of
affixes without changing the letters in the primitive part (except final e
silent).
59. What is an Irregular derivative? One in which the letters of the
primitive part are changed.
60. In using Affixes, what rule should be observed? The affix and root
should be from the same language.
61. Is the same rule to be observed in forming Compound words? It is.
62. What is a Mongrel compound word? One formed contrary to the
rule.
63. Give an example. Cable-graph and cable-gram.
64. What are Barbarisms? Same as mongrel.
65. When use the hyphen in Compound words? When they are not
permanently compounded.
66. What is an Obsolete word? One gone out of date.

RULES AND TERMS.
1. What is Spelling? A distinct expression of the letters or sounds of a
word in their proper order.
2. How many kinds of Spelling? Two.
3. What are they? Orthographic and Phonic.
4. What is Orthographic spelling? An expression of the letters of a

written or printed word in their proper order.
5. What is Phonic spelling? An expression of the elementary sounds of
a word in their proper order, according to established usage.
6. What is meant by good usage? The usage, or custom, of the best
speakers and writers of the times.
7. How do we know when we have spelled a word correctly? By
reference to the Dictionary?
8. What is a Lexicographer? An author of a dictionary.
9. Can we spell by Rules? We cannot.
10. Why? Because there are too many exceptions.
11. What makes a rule in Orthography? Whenever a letter is silent, or
usually so, a rule is formed.
12. Why is c placed before r in acre, massacre, etc.? To preserve the
hard sound of c.
13. What is the rule for Digraphs? A digraph must have one vowel
silent.
14. Give rule for E final. E final is silent when another vowel precedes
it in the same syllable.
15. What effect does final E have on the preceding vowel? It usually
preserves its long sound.
16. When is B silent? Before t, or after m, in the same syllable.
17. When is C silent? Before k in the same syllable; also, before z, l, or
t, in a few words.
18. When is D silent? Before g in the same syllable.

19. When is G silent? Before m or n in the same syllable.
20. When is H silent? After g or r in the same syllable; and h final after
a vowel is always silent; also, in a few words after t, and initial in a few
words.
21. When is L silent? After a when followed by f, m,